530 
CHIRONECTES. 
The present section contains but one known species, the 
Chironectes variegatus , or Chir. Ya pock , of modem authors, 
an animal rarely found in museums, and of which we have 
only had an opportunity of examining an imperfect specimen. 
A skin,‘having the skull in situ , was placed in Mr. Ogilby’s 
hands for examination by Dr. Natterer, and in a communica¬ 
tion published in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society 
will be found a detailed account of such characters as could 
be gleaned from this specimen. Amongst other peculiarities 
of the Chironectes, pointed out by Mr. Ogilby 1 , that gentle¬ 
man notices the existence of large cheek-pouches, extending 
far back into the mouth, and of which the opening was very 
apparent 2 . Mr. Ogilby’s remarks upon the dentition of the 
Chironectes, as the only detailed account of these organs hitherto 
published, I will give in that gentleman’s own words. “ The 
teeth of this animal,’’ Mr. Ogilby states, “ are altogether diffe¬ 
rent from those of the Opossums (Didelphys).and I am at a loss 
to reconcile my own observations with those of M. F. Cuvier 
upon this subject, as given in the Dents des Miunmiftres, 
p. 73, unless by supposing there must have been some mistake 
about the skull referred by M. Cuvier to the Yapock. For 
my own part, I could not bo deceived in this matter, as the 
skull which I examined had never been extracted from the 
specimen. The incisors and canines are of the same form 
and number as in the true Opossums; the two middle incisors 
above, being rather longer than the lateral, those below 
broader, and a little separate. The molars are five on each 
side, two false, and three real, both in the upper and under 
jaws. The first false molar is rather small, and in contact 
with the canine both above and below: the second is half 
1 Sec Proceedings of the Zool. Soc. for May, 1836, p. 57, Part 4. 
3 Dr. Wagner remarks that unless Mr. Ogilby’s obs<rrations upon this 
point were made upon a specimen preserved in spirits, they require con¬ 
firmation. 
