17 



CAPE HYRAX. 



Hyrax Capensis. H. palmarum wiguibm planis, plantarum 

 vrrico subuldto. Lin. Syst, Xaf. Gmel. p. 166. 



Grey-brown Hyrax, paler beneath, with flat nails on the fore 

 feet, and a single sharp curved claw on the hind feet. 



Cavia Capensis. Pall. misc. 34. t. 3. spicil. 2. p. 22. t. 2. 



Marmotte du Gap de Bonne Esperance. Buff. Suppl. 3 . p. 177. 

 pi. 29. 



Cape Cavy. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 96. 



THIS is an animal of which the natural history 

 and manners have but lately been well under- 

 stood. It is a native of mountainous situations 

 about the Cape of Good Hope ; residing in the 

 hollows of rocks, and leaping with great agility 

 about the prominences of the irregular regions it 

 frequents, though its general or walking pace is 

 not remarkably quick. Its size is nearly that of 

 a rabbet, and in colour it much resembles that 

 animal, but is whitish beneath. It is of a thick 

 form, with short limbs, of which the hinder are 

 longer than the fore, and is perfectly destitute of 

 a tail. The head is rather small ; the nose di- 

 vided by a furrow ; the ears short and rounded ; 

 the eyes large and black ; the fore feet divided 

 into four lobes or toes of a soft or pulpy nature, 

 and furnished with flattish, rounded nails : the 

 hind feet are of similar structure, but have only 

 three lobes, of which the interior is furnished 

 with a sharp crooked claw, while the others have 

 nails similar to those on the fore feet. 



