OCR Text |
Show 462 DB. F. A. GOELDI ON T H B [June 5, given, together with the measurements, agree tolerably well with those presented by m y specimen. The basal length of the skull of an adult individual is equally mentioned as being 32 m m . ; and as " habitat" Mr. Thomas gives " Central and Eastern Brazil." The individuals in the British Museum are from " Eio de Janeiro." On the other hand, D. elegans is said to be a Chilian form. Mr. Thomas indicates as its habitat " South Brazil and Chili," but in the list of the British Museum individuals of D. elegans I cannot discover any Brazilian locality. 4. MlCOUREUS PUSILLUS. (Grymceomys agilis.) A second member of the subgenus Micoureus, frequently observed by me here in the Serra dos Orgaos, is M. pusillus, almost impossible to be confounded with any other little Didelphys, except perhaps D. lepida, recently described from the Amazons. Its bright rufous fur, its very dark and conspicuous eye-markings, and strongly-developed " vibrissse " readily distinguish this most graceful and really very beautiful " pygmy Opossum." Burmeister's figure on plate xv. is not entirely satisfactory, as the rufous general colour is not sufficiently marked. Mr. O. Thomas says (p. 354) about the smaller Didelphyidae, especially of the subgenus Peramys: "The habits of the species are as yet undescribed, but they are probably far less arboreal than the other Opossums." I think this observation is applicable also to the smaller forms of the Micoureus-gvowp; and as I have had considerable opportunities of observing the habits of these animals, both in freedom and in captivity, it may be of interest to relate some of the most peculiar features. Everybody acquainted with the European Dormouse (Mus-cardinus avellanarius) will easily gain an idea of Micoureus pusillus. In spite of the different orders they belong to, the likeness of the two animals is a most striking one as regards the size, the fur-colour, the movements, and the confident demeanour. Micoureus pusillus is often brought to m e by our workmen when occupied in new " rocas." Persons not knowing about the common Brazilian system of agriculture, may learn that a wise law obliges the owner to clear of forest a certain space around the homestead, the trees being afterwards burnt when dried by the sun (" derubada"). The continued line of accumulated sweepings (dry leaves and branches) formed by this process is called " aceiro." I found that these "aceiros," especially when running in the neighbourhood of some watershed, are a favourite resort of our marsupial. During the day it will rarely be seen, and only some accident will oblige it to leave its hiding-place, but only for an instant until it has again found a refuge. Such an accident is the tire, when the dry " derubada *' is kindled. W h e n made prisoner it does not oppose much resistance nor bite severely. Placed in a hollow tube of bamboo, it bears easily a journey of several hours. Several times I had specimens of Micoureus pusillus of both sexes alive for some time in m y study. In order to obtain |