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Show 1894.] DIDELPHYID.E OF S.E. BRAZIL. 465 have had moments when I became doubtful whether the P. henseli, a second new Peramys of South Brazil, recently described by M r . O. Thomas, and figured on the same plate, might not also be such a pale-striped individual of P. tristriatus. Burmeister's figure of P. tristriatus (pi. xvi. fig. 2) I consider deficieut in regard to several points. Peramys tristriatus, not at all a " rare animal," as is stated by Burmeister (Syst. Ueb. p. 141), inhabits localities more or less similar to those of Micoureus pusillus. It is often seen in forest-paths, especially in the neighbourhood of water. W h e n in 1891 we dug a deep channel for our sawing-engine, this channel running about a kilometre through the forest, nearly every day a Peramys was found in it, and even now the water often brings down some individual specimen of this marsupial. It is entirely terrestrial, and for arboreal life it is improperly built. I also know Peramys tristriatus quite well as concerns its habits and character, from studying captured specimens. Its food in freedom is similar to that of Micoureus pusillus; but 1 learned that it attacks comparatively larger animals than the former, and assails without hesitation birds and mammals nearly as large as itself. I was once imprudent enough to put together in the same cage an adult Peramys and a young Hesperomys squamipes. The next morning I found nothing more of the latter than a small piece of the skin, and the cage soiled with undeniable traces of a terrible combat. The disposition of this species is not nearly so attractive as that of Micoureus pusillus; bloodthirstiness and a blind delight in cruelty are the prevailing features, and a low degree of intelligence renders taming a very ungrateful matter. A n almost stupid restlessness and unbounded fondness for liberty, together with an unsa-tiable need of food, are generally the causes of a wonderfully rapid decay and death. Toung individuals,however, are pleasing creatures, remarkable for their large beads. With milk and insects they can be kept alive some time by persons having the necessary time and leisure. I know here of a person who observed the copulation of Peramys, and was once told of a mother carrying her young on her back; unfortunately I arrived too late to see it. It is also necessary to say that the habits of Peramys are equally by preference nocturnal. The measurements of three individuals before m e are :- a. $ (spirit pres.) total length 157 mm., head and body 105 m m . b. S (dry skin) „ „ 179 m m . „ „ 120 m m . c. S ( ,, ) » » 201mm. „ „ 145 mm. The basilar length of the skull of specimen 6 is 28-5 mm., of specimen c 28 mm. (Mr. O. Thomas mentions for an adult d of P. americana 28 mm., for an adult (?) x tf of P. iheringii 22-2 mm.). 6. CHIRONECTES PALMATUS. The singular and beautiful Water-Opossum, so well represented 1 [This query is Dr. Goeldi's, not mine.-O. T.] |
