468 Dr. Suiru’s Description of two Quadrupeds 
any of this grease was to be seen, I was not a little surprised on 
my return to find the quantity much increased, and therefore 
determined if possible to ascertain from whence it was acquired. 
With this view I had the post cleaned, and then concealed myself 
so as to be unnoticed by the animal, and yet be able to see him. 
Scarcely was quietness established, when he approached the old 
spot and commenced rubbing his nates forcibly against the wood 
for about half a minute, and upon desisting an abundant supply 
of the white greasy-looking substance was found to have been 
deposited, which he commenced consuming agreeably to the 
mode already described. The rubbing-place was cleaned seve- 
ral times, and as regularly as that was done, the loss was sup- 
plied, till at last the animal finding all his exertions of no avail, 
selected a large stone in a distant corner of the building upon 
which to form the deposit, and where he continued to place it as 
long as he was annoyed. Since I first observed this habit, which 
is now more than six months, I have never for many minutes 
together seen the beam without more or less of the substance in 
question ; and whenever I have secretly watched the animal for 
any time, I have seen him licking off and swallowing portions 
of it. He seldom finished a meal without betaking himself to 
the beam ; he almost never rose from rest without making a 
similar journey, and he rarely at any time passed the deposit 
without partaking of it. Is this secretion necessary for carrying 
on the process of digestion, or for maintaining the regularity of 
the functions of the alimentary canal? 
HyRAX ARBOREUS. 
Hyrax, with the colour a mixture of reddish-brown and black 
above; white beneath; a white blotch near the middle of 
the back. 
Boom- 
