The encyclopædia britannica; a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information . ding on bywinding their prehensile tails round hers, as in the figure of thewoolly opossum. The latter belongs to the sub-genus Philander,Which is nearly allied to the last; its full title being Didelphy (Philander) lanigera. The philander (D. [P.] philander) is closelyrelated. The fourth sub-genus (or genus) is Marmosa (Micourcus, orGrymaeomys), differing from the two last by the smaller sizeof its members and by certain slight differences in the shapeof their teeth. Its best-known species is the
The encyclopædia britannica; a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information . ding on bywinding their prehensile tails round hers, as in the figure of thewoolly opossum. The latter belongs to the sub-genus Philander,Which is nearly allied to the last; its full title being Didelphy (Philander) lanigera. The philander (D. [P.] philander) is closelyrelated. The fourth sub-genus (or genus) is Marmosa (Micourcus, orGrymaeomys), differing from the two last by the smaller sizeof its members and by certain slight differences in the shapeof their teeth. Its best-known species is the murine opossum(D. murina), no larger than a mouse, of a bright-red colour,found as far north as central Mexico, and extending thence tothe south of Brazil. A second well-known species is D. cinerea,which ranges from Central America to western Brazil, Peru andBolivia. Yet another group (Peramys) is represented bynumerous shrew-like species, of very small size, with short,hairy and non-prehensile tails, not half the length of the trunk,and unridged skulls. The most striking member of the group. .- > The Woolly Opossum (Didelphys lanigera) and young,is the Three-striped Opossum (D. amcricana) from Brazil, whichis of a reddish grey colour, with three clearly-defined deep-blackbands down its back, as in some of the striped mice of dimidiata, D. nudicaudala, D. domcslica, D. unislriala andseveral other South American species belong to this we have the Chiloe Island opossum (D. gliroides), alonerepresenting the sub-genus Dromiciops, which is most nearlyallied to Marmosa, but differs from all other opossums by theshort furry ears, thick hairy tail, doubly swollen auditory bulla,short canines and peculiarly formed and situated incisors. Whatever difference of opinion there may be as to the rightof the above-mentioned groups to generic separation from thetypical Didelphys, there can be none as to the distinctness of thewater-opossum (Chironcctcs minimus), whic
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