SYRIAN HYRAX. 219 



different climate, and having no power of exert- 

 ing with freedom its natural habits and propen- 

 sities. 



The Cape Hyrax feeds on vegetables only, and 

 is said to prepare a kind of nest or bed of dried 

 leaves, grasses, &c. in the cavities in which it 

 resides. Its voice is a shrill repeated squeak. 



SYRIAN" HYRAX. 



Hyrax Syriacus. H. plantis tridactylis, vnguibus omnibus sub- 



OEqualibus. Schreb. saeughth.p.^2^. 

 Rufous-grey Hyrax, white beneath, with tridactyle feet and 



nearly equal claws. 



Ashkoko. Bruce Trav. append, p. 139. pi. 23. 

 Bristly Cavy. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 92. 



THIS species seems to have been first clearly 

 and fully described by Mr. Bruce, in the appendix 

 to his celebrated Abyssinian Travels. If the de- 

 scription appears in some parts rather too minute, 

 let it be considered, that Mr. B. was treating of an 

 animal almost unknown to European naturalists, 

 and which, in consequence, seemed to demand a 

 peculiar degree of exactness. 



" This curious animal," says Mr. Bruce, " 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 rock in 

 many other parts of Abyssinia. It does not bur- 

 row, or make holes, as the rat and rabbet, Nature 



