468 Dr. Smith's Description of two Quadnipeds 



any of this grease was to be seen, I was not a little surprised on 

 my return to find the quantity much increased, and therefore 

 determined if possible to ascertain from whence it was acquired. 

 With this view I had the post cleaned, and then concealed myself 

 so as to be unnoticed by the animal, and yet be able to see him. 

 Scarcely was quietness established, when he approached the old 

 spot and commenced rubbing his 7iates forcibly against the wood 

 for about half a minute, and upon desisting an abundant supply 

 of the white greasy-looking substance was found to have been 

 deposited, which he commenced consuming agreeably to the 

 mode already described. The rubbing-place was cleaned seve- 

 ral times, and as regularly as that was done, the loss was sup- 

 plied, till at last the animal finding all his exertions of no avail, 

 selected a large stone in a distant corner of the building upon 

 which to form the deposit, and where he continued to place it as 

 long as he was annoyed. Since I first observed this habit, which 

 is now more than six months, I have never for many minutes 

 too;ether seen the beam without more or less of the substance in 

 question ; and whenever I have secretly watched the animal for 

 any time, I have seen him licking off and swallowing portions 

 of it. He seldom finished a meal without betaking himself to 

 the beam ; he almost never rose from rest without making a 

 similar journey, and he rarely at any time passed the deposit 

 without partaking of it. Is this secretion necessary for carrying- 

 on the process of digestion, or for maintaining the regularity of 

 the functions of the alimentary canal ? 



HVKAX A Tx DOR EUS. 



Hyrax, with the colour a mixture of reddish-brown and black 

 above ; white beneath ; a white blotch near the middle of 

 the back. 



B 



00 M - 



