THE SYRIAN HYRAX. 193 



confined, on bread, roots, fruits, and herbs. It 

 appears to have little intelligence, and little fear. 

 When at liberty, it has the same inquisitive and 

 searching habits, and comes freely to the hand 

 which is held out to it. 



The Askoko of Bruce is given as a synonym for 

 this animal. On this account we think it worth 

 while to transcribe his description of its habits, &c. 

 which agree nearly with what is above mentioned. 



" This curious animal is found in Ethiopia, in 

 the caverns of the rocks, or under the great stones 

 in the Mountain of the Sun, behind the Queen's 

 palace at Koscam. It is also frequent in the deep 

 caverns in the rocks in many other places in 

 Abyssinia. It does not burrow, or make holes, 

 as the rat and rabbit ; nature having interdicted 

 him this practice, by furnishing him with feet, the 

 toes of which are perfectly round, and of a soft, 

 pulpy, tender substance ; the fleshy parts of the 

 toes project beyond the nails, which are rather 

 broad than sharp, much similar to a man's nails ill 

 grown ; and these appear to be given him rather 

 for the defence of his soft toes, than for any active 

 use in digging, to which they are by no means 

 adapted. 



" The whole of the fore-foot is very thick, 

 fleshy, and soft, and of a deep black colour, alto- 

 gether void of hair ; though the back, or upper 

 part of it, is thick covered like the rest of iu 



K 



