Such are the principal notices hitherto received from the new settlement on the southern continent, which, if from unavoidable circumstances, they are a little deficient in point of order, will, it is hoped, make ample amends by their novelty, importance, and authenticity.

Genus XVII.  Didelphis.  Lin.  Syst.  Nat.

Genus XXII.  Opossum.  Penn.  Hist.  Quad.

Black flying opossum.

The following is, according to every appearance, a new animal of this genus.  The length from the tip of the nose, which is pointed in shape, to the root of the tail, is twenty inches; of the tail itself twenty-two inches, at the base quite light, increasing gradually to black at the end:  the width across the loins sixteen inches:  the ears are large and erect:  the coat or fur is of a much richer texture or more delicate than the sea-otter of Cook’s River:  on the upper parts of the body, at first sight, appearing of a glossy black, but on a nicer inspection, is really what the French call petit gris, or minever, being mixed with grey; the under parts are white, and on each hip may be observed a tan-coloured spot, nearly as big as a shilling; at this part the fur is thinnest, but at the root of the tail it is so rich and close that the hide cannot be felt through it.  The fur is also continued to the claws:  the membrane, which is expanded on each side of the body, is situated much as in the grey species, though broader in proportion.  The jaws are furnished with teeth, placed as in some others of this genus:  in the upper jaw forwards are four small cutting teeth, then two canine ones, and backwards five grinders:  the under jaw has two long large cutting teeth, like the Vulpine Opossum, [See skeleton on the plate at page 168.] five grinders, with no intermediate canine ones, the space being quite vacant.  The fore legs have five toes on each foot, with a claw on each; the hinder ones four toes, with claws, (the three outside ones without any separation) and a thumb without a claw, enabling the animal to use the foot as a hand, as many of the opossum tribe are observed to do.  See the skeleton of the foot in the annexed plate.

This beautiful quadruped inhabits New South Wales.  The specimen from which the above account has been taken, is a male, and the property of Henry Constantine Nowell, Esq. of Shiplake, in Oxfordshire.  The fur of it is so beautiful, and of so rare a texture, that should it hereafter be found in plenty, it might probably be thought a very valuable article of commerce.

APPENDIX

[Tables of the Route taken by each of the ships of the First Fleet after leaving Port Jackson—­not included in this ebook.]

A LIST OF CONVICTS SENT TO NEW SOUTH WALES, IN 1787.

Name.  Where Convicted.  Date Of Conviction.  Years.