194 THE SYRIAN HYRAX. 



body, down to where the toes divide, and the hair 

 ends ; so that these long round toes very much 

 resemble the fingers of a man. 



" In place of holes, it seems to delight in less 

 close, or more airy places, in the mouths of caves, 

 or clefts in the rock, or where one projecting, and 

 being open before, affords a long retreat under it, 

 without fear that this can ever be removed by the 

 strength or operations of man. The Askoko is 

 gregarious, and frequently several dozens of them 

 sit upon the great stones at the mouth of caves, 

 and warm themselves in the sun, or even come 

 out, and enjoy the freshness of the summer even- 

 ing. They do not stand upright upon their feet, 

 but seem to steal along as in fear, their belly being 

 nearly close to the ground, advancing a few steps 

 at a time, and then pausing. They have some- 

 thing very mild, feeble like, and timid in their 

 deportment ; are gentle, and easily tamed, though, 

 when roughly handled at first, they bite very 

 severely. 



" This animal is found plentifully on Mount 

 Libanus. I have seen him also among the rocks 

 at the Pharan Promontorium, or Cape Mahomet, 

 which divides the Elanitic from the Heroopolitic 

 Gulf, or Gulf of Suez. In all places they seem to 

 be the same : if there is any difference, it is in 

 favour of the size and fatness, which those in the 

 Mountain of the Sun seem to enjoy above the 



