DIDELPHYS BHACHYUKA. 
022 
agrees perfectly witli the DUhdphy* bracJnjura of authors, a 
nearly allied species, and which we know extends us fur 
south as die River Plata ; and hence I am induced to believe 
that Azara, who was possibly not acquainted with tliis second 
short-tailed species, and who, it must be borne in mind, was 
misting to his memory, was mistaken in the identification. 
DIDELPHYS BRACHYURA. 
Short-tailed Opossum. 
{Plate 16, fig. 2). 
Didelphis brachyurot. Scmtv.n., Siiug. iii. p. 5-18, PI. 151. 1778. 
“ brachyura, Gxikl. Linn., Svst. i. p. 108. 
'* “ Temm., Monogr. i. p. 53. 
44 44 Water ii., Zoology of H.M.S. Beagle (Mammalia), 
p. 97, Plate 22. 
Short-tailed Opornon . Pennant, Quadr. p. 20S. 
Tail short; fur short, grev on the upper parts of the head and 
body, and rusty yellow on the sides and under parts, rather 
paler on the abdomen than elsewhere : feet yellowish. 
Inhabits Guiana and Brazil, and extends southwards as far as 
the River Plata. 
The head of this animal is larger than usual, in proportion 
to the body ; the canine teeth are large; the tail is not quite 
equal to half the body in length. The fur is short and 
dense, and moderate as to texture, of an ashy grey hue on 
the upper surface of the head, and on the back, mid of a 
rusty yellow on the sides of the head and body, ns well as on 
the under parts; but here the hue is milter paler than elsewhere. 
The tail is tolerably well clothed with short stiff hairs, which. 
