134 



The Ryrax of Syria. 



THE HYKAX OF SYEIA. 



BY THE EEV. C. H. MIDDLETON, B.A. 



Most persons who are at all acquainted with, natural history, 

 are well aware that the classification of animals is not always 

 a simple matter, that " any attempt to divide living beings by 

 distinct lines of demarcation, as we mark out the minor divi- 

 sions of a great kingdom on a map, are hopeless, unless we 

 submit to endless exceptions, to frequent inconveniences, and 

 occasional absurdities." There are creatures which in external 

 appearance, in habits, or it may be in osteological or visceral 

 formation, seem to belong rather to one class while they are 

 actually members of another. The student of comparative 

 anatomy feels no surprise at this — his surprise is to find the 

 gradations from one typical form to another so incomplete. 

 Between nearly all groups there are found intermediate forms, 

 connecting links of greater or less importance ; thus the Oolugo, 

 Or flying Lemur, to some extent connects the monkey and the 

 bat; the A.ard wolf (Profeles rridatus) comes between the 

 hycuii and 11 ie civet. Tho hyrax appears to present ono of these 

 intermediate or transition forms ; for a long time it was regarded 

 as a Rodent, and certainly :i plantigrado creature, about the size 

 of an ordinary wild rabbit, with thick, soft brown fur, and 

 incisor-like teeth, with large brilliant eyes set forward in tho 

 bead, and a moustachioed muzzle, living among rocks and in 

 hole- in hanks, had some claim to be classed among hai'es ami 

 rabbits; and baking it to bo, as it undoubtedly is, the Slniphun, 

 or "coney" of Scripture, identified with the coney by tho 

 liabbinical writers, classed with tho haro in the sacred books, 



