THE ROCK RABBITS. 



THE ORDER HYRACOIDEA— THE GENUS HYRAX — ITS CHARACTERISTICS. 



THE oi-der Hyracoidea consists of only one family, Hyracid^E, 

 which comprises only one genus. Naturalists are by no means 

 agreed as to the classification of the animals comprised in this 

 one order, family, or genus. Pallas regarded them as Rodents. Oken 

 considered them nearest akin to the Marsupials. Huxley, however, 

 who is followed by Wallace, raised them to the dignity of an inde- 

 pendent order. 



In the stony mountain ranges of Africa and Western Asia, the 

 traveler sees in many spots a lively rabbit-like creature basking on a 

 narrow ledge of rock. As he approaches, the animal takes fright, swiftly 

 clambers up the precipice, vanishes in one of the numerous clefts, and 

 then, safe and curious, turns and looks down with wondering eyes on 

 the intruder. It is one of the Rock Rabbits. 



GENUS HYRAX. 



The Genus Hyrax contains ten species. The generic character- 

 istics are the following. The body is long, the head large, the upper-lip 

 cleft, the eyes small, the ear short, broad, and round, and almost hidden 

 in fur, the neck short, the tail a mere rudiment, the legs moderately high 

 and weak, the fore-feet divided into four, the hind-feet into three toes. 

 A soft, thick coat covers the body and limbs. 



The Rock Rabbits or Damans have been known from olden times. 

 They are the " conies " of the Bible, " a weak people which had their 

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