THE HYRACES 



1109 



inhabited by them. They are frequently found, too, in rocky water courses. They 

 appear to feed at night and very early in the morning, their principal food being 

 the leaves and young shoots of trees and bushes. During the day they lie out upon 

 rocks in the shade, or retire, especially toward midday, beneath the rocks. They 

 are timid and wary, rushing into their holes at the smallest intimation of danger. 

 The only sound I heard made by them was a shrill squeak when suddenly alarmed. 

 They can climb over smooth surfaces of rock in a wonderful manner, their large 

 feet aiding them in obtaining a hold." The typical race of this species occurs in 

 the highlands of Abyssinia, the lowland form being of considerably smaller size. Its 

 habits may be taken as characteristic of all the species, with the exception of those 

 frequenting trees. Two other species inhabit Southern Abyssinia, viz., the Shoan 

 hyrax (P. shoana], and Bruce 's hyrax (P. brucei). The former of these inhabits 



SYRIAN HYRAX. 



Southern Abyssinia and Shoa, and is nearly or quite the largest of the group; it dif- 

 fers from all others, except the Cape hyrax, in having the spot on the back entirely 

 black, and is distinguished from the latter by the great length of its soft and silky 

 hair. Bruce's hyrax, which ranges from Southern Abyssinia to Somaliland and 

 Mozambique, is a small and rare species, with the spot on the back long and narrow, 

 and yellowish or whitish in color. It has been found at elevations of from seven 

 thousand to eight thousand feet. 



The Cape hyrax (P. capensis) is confined to the Cape Colony and 

 Natal, where it is known to the Dutch colonists as the klip-das, or 

 rock-badger. It is characterized by the hair being soft and fine, and of 

 medium length, with the spot on the back of an irregular oval form, and black in 

 color, the general hue of the fur being dark sepia brown, speckled with pale yellow 

 or white. The late Professor Moseley writes that these animals ' ' come out to feed 



