MURINE OPOSSUM. 
500 
The short and soft fur on the back of this animal is of a 
palish grey hue on the upper parts and sides of the body, but 
the hairs are of a more or less rich yellow hue (sometimes 
inclining to rusty) at or near the point : on the middle of the 
hack the extreme points are brownish, and the yellow tint is 
therefore less pure than on the sides of the body, where the 
hairs are of an ochreous yellow at the point: the grey colour 
of the basal part of each hair is not altogether hidden by the 
overlapping yellow points. The outer surface of the limbs 
is of the same colour as the upper parts of the body. The 
fur on the under parts of the head and body, as well as the 
inner surface of the limbs, is uniformly yellowish white to the 
root. The black ring which surrounds the eye is narrow, 
both above and beneath that organ, rather broad behind it, 
and in front is much extended ; the mesial portion of the 
muzzle above, and the forehead, are of a very pale yellow tint. 
The edge of the upper lip and the cheeks are yellow-white. 
The ears are brown. The feet are whitish. 
