THE SYRIAN HYRAX. 



Description Habitations. 



The hind-toot is long and narrow, divided with 

 two deep wrinkles, or clefts, in the middle, drawn 

 across the centre, on each side of which the flesh 

 rises with considerable protuberancy, and it is 

 terminated by three claws ; the middle one being 

 the longest. The fore-foot has four toes, three 

 disposed in the same proportion as the hind-foot; 

 the fourth is longer than the others, and is placed 

 lower down on the side of the foot, so that the 

 top of it reaches no farther than the bottom of 

 the toe next to it. The sole of the foot is di- 

 vided in the centre by deep clefts, like the other, 

 and this cleft reaches down to the heel, which it 

 nearly divides. The whole of the fore-foot is 

 very thick, fleshy, and soft, and of a deep black 

 colour, destitute of hair; though the back or 

 tipper part of it is thickly covered like the rest 

 of the body, down to where the toes divide; 

 there the hair ends, so that these long toes nearly 

 resemble a man's fingers. 



These quadrupeds seem to delight in 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. They are gregarious, and 

 frequently several dozens of them sit upon the 

 great stones at the mouth of the caves, and 

 warm themselves in the sun, or even come out, 

 and enjoy the freshness of the summer breeze, 



VQl*. 11. NO. XY. $ S 



