General Zoology/White-Tailed Opossum
WHITE-TAILED OPOSSUM.
- New Holland O. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 25.
- Opossum. Hawskew. voy. 3. p. 586. Cook’s last voy. 1. p. 108. pl. 4.
This is described as about twice the size of a rat; and of a rusty brown colour above, whitish beneath: the hair soft and glossy; the tail taper,and nearly the length of the body; it is covered with brown hair to within about four inches and a half at the end, where it is white, bare, and prehensile; the ears are short and rounded, and the face rather long. This species is a native of New Holland, and is described, but not very distinctly, in the voyages above referred to.