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February 10, 1835. 

 The Rev. John Barlow in the Chan-. 



A Letter was read, addressed to the Secretary by W. H. Rudston 

 Read, Esq., giving an account of the habits of the Hyrax Capensis, 

 Pall., as observed at the Cape of Good Hope, and also during a 

 voyage thence to England in a specimen brought home by the Rev. 

 Mr. Hennah of H. M. S. Isis, which was presented to the Society 

 after its death by Mr. Read. 



" The Hyrax Capensis," Mr. Read states, " is found at the Cape 

 of Good Hope inhabiting the hollows and crevices of rocks, both on 

 the summits and sides of hills, as well as near the sea-shore, even 

 a little above high-water mark. It appears to live in families, and 

 in its wild state is remarkably shy. In winter it is fond of coming 

 out of its hole and sunning itself on the lee side of a rock, and in 

 summer of enjoying the breeze on the top ; but in both instances, as 

 well as when it feeds, a sentinel is on the look-out (generally an old 

 male) , which gives notice, usually by a shrill prolonged cry, of the ap- 

 proach of danger, or even the least movement of any suspicious ob- 

 ject. It lives on the young shoots of shrubs, the tops of flowers, 

 herbs and grass, particularly of all those which are aromatic ; which 

 occasions the necessity of paunching the animal as soon as killed, in 

 order to make it fit for eating. The stomachs of those shot by Mr. 

 Hennah were always much distended with food scarcely masticated. 

 In the flavour of its flesh it is very like a rabbit. A friend of mine 

 kept two young ones alive for some time, which became very tame : 

 they would find him out when lying on the sofa or in bed (for they 

 were suflfered to run about the house), and climbing up, shelter them- 

 selves on his breast within his waistcoat, or creep under the bed- 

 clothes at his back, and lying quiet enjoy the warmth. The one 

 brought home by Mr. Hennah, when allowed to run unconfined about 

 the room, was inclined to be sociable ; but was restless and inquisi- 

 tive, climbing up and examining every person or thing in the cabin, 

 and starthng at any noise, which caused it instantly to run and hide 

 itself. But from confinement it became savage and snarling, and 

 tried to bite when anything was put near its cage. Both wild and 

 in restraint it is remarkably clean in its habits, always frequenting 

 and depositing its dung in one place. From its faintly crying in its 

 sleep we may conclude that it dreams. I have also heard it chewing 

 its food by night, when everything has been quiet, and after going 

 into its sleeping apartment. In its food it was pleased with variety, 

 eating first a few leaves of one plant and then of another, and greedily 

 licking salt when given to it. In its passage home its food was In- 



No. XXVI. Proceedings of the Zoological Society, 



