Dr. J. E. Gray on the Species ofHyrax. 39 



Ostdog. t. 3). The following are the measurements, in inches 

 and lines : — 



Hyrax,12ib. Bendrohyrax, \\i2b. 



Length of upper edge 2 2 1 9 



„ lower edge 2 1 1 7 



Width at widest part 1 7 1 6 



Skulls with the teeth in change show the milk- and perma- 

 nent cutting-teeth at the same time, thus having four upper 

 cutting-teeth. A skull with teeth in this state is figured by 

 Cuvier (Oss. Foss. ii. p. 135, t. 2. f. 5). 



In most skulls there is a small hole on each side near the 

 back edge of the cutting-teeth, which Cuvier calls the trous 

 tncisifs (t. 2. f. 2 w) ; see also Jaeger, Wiirzb. naturw. Jahresb. 

 1860, xvi. t. 2. f. 20 a;, who regards it as the remainder of a 

 deciduous second cutting-tooth. This pit is less distinct and 

 nearer the base of the cutting-teeth in the skull oi Bendro- 

 hyrax. 



Professors Hemprich and Ehrenberg propose as a specific 

 character the length of the feet compared with the tibige ; but 

 this is difficult to observe in dried specimens or in set-up 

 skeletons, as the length of the feet must depend greatly on 

 how the specimens are mounted. 



It is the fashion with certain naturalists (as M. Clapar^de, for 

 example) to find fault with zoologists for describing specimens 

 in museums ; but, as far as mammalia are concerned, it is 

 much more difficult to describe them from living specimens ; 

 for then one cannot observe their teeth and bones, or compare 

 many specimens with one another, and can rarely have the op- 

 portunity of comparing several species at the same time, — all 

 much greater evils than not being able to tell the sex &c. of 

 the specimens contained in museums. I must say that I think 

 the accusation that " museums are a great incubus to science " 

 must have arisen from the naturalist making it taking a very 

 limited view of the subject. Museums may cause some evil 

 (what does not ?) ; but the advantages of a large collection far 

 exceed any evil I have ever experienced or can ever conceive 

 to arise from them. 



Fam. Hyracidas. 



Nose blunt, without horns. Body covered with hair, with 

 scattered longer bristles ; toes rather elongate, blunt, with flat 

 claws. Tail short or none produced. Teeth 34 : incisors \^^ 

 canines j^, premolars ^-^, molars |^3. 



Ifi/rar, Ilermanu Lipura, Illiger ; Hyracidc^, Schinz, Syst. Mainin. 338. 



