432 



THE ODD-TOED ANIMALS. 



to in the Hebrew text of the Bible under the name 

 of Laphan, which Luther translated by the word 

 " Rabbit," and in the authorized and revised versions 

 is rendered "Cony." The Conies may for the 

 greater part be considered characteristic animals of 

 mountainous regions of the deserts and of elevated 

 table-lands. Represented by several varieties, they 

 inhabit all the mountains of Syria, Palestine and 

 Arabia, perhaps also of Persia, the Nile country, 

 east, west and south Africa alike, frequenting eleva- 

 tions of 6,000 or 9,000 feet above sea level, and the 

 peaks and cones that rise like islands sheer above 

 the surface of the plains — the presence of the little 

 animals constituting one of the characteristic features 

 of the high table-lands of northeastern Africa. 



THE CONY. The Book of Proverbs, enumerating four animals which it describes as "exceeding wise." 



says "the Conies are but a feeble folk, yet they make their houses in the rocks." These are the animals in the pic- 

 ture, which are timid and wary, and congregate in large numbers in the mountains of northern Africa and western 

 Asia. {Hyrax abyssinicus.') 



The Abyssinian 



Cony, or Ash- 



hoko. 



For the purpose of our description 

 we select the Abyssinian Cony, or 

 Ashkoko {Hyrax abyssinicus) as it is 

 the variety best known to us. The animal measures 

 from ten to twelve inches in length; the fur consists 

 of moderately long, fine hairs, gray-brown at the 

 base, lighter gray in the middle portions, merging 

 into a dark brown surmounted by a light colored tip, 

 the resulting general color of this combination being 

 a mottled pale gray. Modifications of tint seem to 

 be of rather frequent occurrence. 



The more fissures and crannies there are among 

 the rocks, the more numerous these animals are. If 

 the observer quietly passes through the valleys he 

 sees them sitting, or more frequently lying, in rows 

 on the projecting ledges; for they are a lazy, com- 

 fort-loving tribe, which like to bask in the warm sun- 

 shine. A rapid movement or a loud noise disperses 

 them instantly; the whole assemblage quickens to 



life, all flee with an agility like that usual among 

 rodents, and almost instantly disappear. In the 

 neighborhood of villages, where they are also to be 

 found, sometimes in immediate proximity to houses, 

 they show scarcely any fear of the natives, and boldly 

 attend to their various affairs as if they understood 

 that nobody thinks of molesting them; but when ap- 

 proached by people whose color or attire differs 

 from that of their usual human neighbors, they im- 

 mediately retreat to their holes in the rocks. A Dog 

 or other animal of the lower orders inspires them 

 with much greater fear than does a human being. 

 When startled by a canine foe, even after they have 

 become hidden, safe from pursuit, in their rocky 

 crevices, they continue to give utterance to their 

 curious, tremulous yell, 

 which resembles the cry 

 of small Monkeys. 



We must confirm the 

 observation of a former 

 traveler, who called at- 

 tention to the striking 

 fact that the peaceable 

 and defenseless Hyrax 

 lives in the permanent 

 society and on the best 

 of terms with a by no 

 means despicable beast 

 of prey, a variety of 

 Mungoos {Hcrpcstcs .ze- 

 bra). A Lizard, prob- 

 ably one of the species 

 of the Star Lizard | .V<7- 

 lio cyanogaster) also joins 

 the two. It would seem 

 that the prudent Cony 

 fills the office of sentinel 

 in this triple alliance, for 

 as soon as it utters its 

 shrill whistle the entire 

 collection disappears in 

 the crevices between f hc 

 stones. 



The Conies are averse 

 to leaving their moun- 

 tainous, rocky domicile. 

 When the grass growing 

 between the boulders 

 has been eaten off, they 

 descend for food to lower regions, but they always 

 post sentinels on the most prominent peaks of rock, 

 and a warning signal from one of these guards suf- 

 fices to incite a hurried flight of the entire body. 

 Traits, Reproduc- In. regard to their movements and 

 tion and Hunt- mental characteristics, the Conies 

 ing of Conies. seem in certain particulars to be in- 

 termediate in position between the unwieldy Rhi- 

 noceroses and the nimble Rodents. They are excel- 

 lent climbers. A close investigation of the soles of 

 their feet, which are as elastic and springy as rubber, 

 reveals the fact that the Hyrax is able to contract 

 and distend the middle cleft or fissure of its sole- 

 pad at will, and thereby to secure a hold on a 

 smooth surface by means of suction. The behavior 

 of the Conies indicates great gentleness, and even 

 simplicity, combined with excessive timidity. The 

 social instinct is highly developed in them and they 

 are rarely met singly. 



--^S^S^^-' 



