THE HYRACES ^ 1107 



is but little in common between the hyraces and the elephants, which respectively 

 form the representatives of two groups as distinct from one another as is the Odd- 

 Toed from the Even-Toed group of the typical Ungulates. The elephants have been 

 enabled to survive to the present day by the development of a highly-specialized 

 dentition, and, perhaps, also owing to their huge bodily size; while the small hyraces 

 are sufficiently protected by their habits. 



THE HYRACES 



SUBORDER Hyracoidea 

 Family PR OCA 



The small animals now generally known as hyraces (from one of their scientific 

 names) are so like Rodents in external appearance and habits, that in our transla- 



SKEI.ETON OF THE CAPE HYRAX. 



tion of the Bible they are designated by the term coney, which belongs properly to 

 the rabbit. 



The Rodent-like appearance is largely due to the circumstance that (as shown 

 in the figure of the skeleton) their jaws are armed in front with long, curved teeth, 

 adapted for gnawing, and separated by a long gap from the teeth of the cheek 

 series. Their front teeth are, however, in reality very different, both in form and 

 number, from those of the Rodent Mammals. In the upper jaw there are a pair of 

 incisor teeth, of semicircular form, and growing throughout life in the Rodent man- 

 ner. Instead, however, of being chisel-like, they are triangular in section, and 

 terminate in sharp points, their outer and inner front surfaces being covered with 

 enamel, which is wanting on the hinder surface. In the lower jaw, there are two 

 pairs of front teeth, of which the outermost are nearly straight, with long, conical 

 crowns divided into three lobes; both pairs of these teeth are, however, rooted, and 

 therefore quite unlike the continually-growing, single pair of the Rodents. The 



