5 i8 UNGULATES. 



little in common between the hyraces and the elephants, which respectively form 

 the representatives of two groups as distinct from one another as is the Odd-toed 

 from the Even-toed group of the typical Ungulates. The elephants have been 

 enabled to survive to the present day by the development of a highly-specialised 

 dentition, and, perhaps, also owing to their huge bodily size; while the small 

 hyraces are sufficiently protected by their habits. 



THE HYRACES. 



SUBORDER Hyracoidea. 



Family PROCAVIID^E. 



The small animals now generally known as hyraces (from one of their 

 scientific names) are so like Kodents in external appearance and habits, that in 

 our translation of the Bible they are designated by the term coney, which belongs 

 properly to the rabbit. 



This Kodent-like appearance is largely due to the circumstance that (as 

 shown in the figure of the skeleton) their jaws are armed in front with long, 



SKELETON OF THE CAPE HYRAX. 



curved teeth, adapted for gnawing, and separated by a long gap from the teeth of 

 the cheek-series. Their front teeth are, however, in reality very different, both in 

 form and number, from those of the Rodent mammals. In the upper jaw there 

 are a pair of incisor teeth, of semicircular form, and growing throughout life in 

 the Rodent manner. Instead, however, of being chisel-like, they are triangular 

 in section, and terminate in sharp points, their outer and inner front surfaces 

 being covered with enamel, which is wanting on the hinder surface. In the lower 

 jaw there are two pairs of front teeth, of which the outermost are nearly straight, 

 with long conical crowns divided into three lobes ; both pairs of these teeth are, 

 however, rooted, and therefore quite unlike the continually-growing single pair of 

 the Rodents. The cheek-teeth are seven in number on each side of both the upper 

 and lower jaw ; and in structure approximate to those of either the rhinoceros or 



