177 



CHAPTEK XLV. 



ORDERS OF MAMMALIA {Continued). 



Hyeacoidea and Peoboscidea. 



Oedee X. Hyeacoidea. — This is a very small order which has 

 been constituted by Huxley for the reception of two or three 

 little animals, which make up the single genus Hyrax. These 

 have been usually placed in the immediate neighbourhood of 

 the Ehinoceros, to which they have some decided affinities, 

 and they are still retained by Owen in the section of the 

 Perissodactyle Ungulates. 



The order is distinguished by the following characters : 

 There are no canine teeth, and the incisors of the upper jaw are 

 long and curved (fig. 660), and groio from permanent pulps, 

 as they do in the Rodents {such as the Beaver, Rat, &c.) The 

 molar teeth are singularly like those of the Rhinoceros. Ac- 

 cording to Huxley, the dental formula of the aged animal 

 is — 



2—2 0—0 4—4 3—3 



i ; c ; vm ; m = 36. 



2—2 0—0 ^ 4—4 3—3 



The fore-feet are tetradactylous, the hind-feet tridactylous, and 

 cdl the toes have rounded hoof -like nails, with the exception 

 of the inner toes of the hind -feet, which have an obliquely- 

 curved nail. There are no clavicles. The nose and ears are 

 short, and the tail is represented by a mere tubercle. 



The living species of Hyrax are confined to Africa and 

 Syria ; and no fossil forms can at present be referred to 



