CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 11. PACHYDERM ATA. 651 



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liLc Sl'EIAN DAiiA-N. 



THE HYRACLDJE. 



The animals of this family, called Damans, are about the size of a hare, and on account of their 

 general appearance have been regarded as belonging to the Rodentia, but their dentition and 

 osseous structure place them clearly among the Pachvdermata, and between the rhinoceros and 

 tapir. There is but the single genus, DAMAN or HYRAX, la/rax ; of this there are several 

 species. 



The Syrian* IIyrax or Daman, Hyrax Syriacus, is a foot long, of a brownish gray color ubove 

 and white below. The skin without the hair is of a blackish violet. It is gregarious, lives in 

 caves, and is a mild, timid, and feeble creature. It delights to gather by dozens around its 

 dwellings and bask in the sun. It is found in Syria, Mount Sinai, and Abyssinia, and is supposed 

 to be identical with the Ashkoko of Bruce. There is little doubt that it is the Saphan or Shaphan 

 of Scripture, translated coney, in Proverbs xxx. 26 : "The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make 

 they their houses in the rock." 



The Klipdas, H. Capensis, is found at the Cape of Good Hope, inhabiting the hollows and 

 crevices of rocks. It feeds on herbs, grass, tops of flowers, and young shoot>. particularly of aro- 

 matic plants. It lives in families on the rocky slopes of hills and mountains, sometimes near the 

 sea; it is shy and wild, and when abroad keeps an old member of the flock on the look-out as a 

 sentinel; when he sees any thing dangerous he gives the alarm by a shrill cry. It is very clean 

 and neat in its habits. The flesh resembles that of the rabbit. 



Another species, the Tree-Daman, H. arboreus, is found in Western and Southern Africa, and 

 in Mozambique. It is of the size of a large rabbit. Specimens of the three preceding species 

 have been in the London Zoological Gardens. 



Two other species are mentioned, the Dongola Daman, H. rujiceps, and the Eiwia or 

 Forest Daman, H. sylvestris. 



