THE HYRACES 229 



tares and zoological relationship we must not occupy more 

 space over the animal. But it is well to point out that although 

 like the Tapir it may with some justice be nicknamed a "living 

 fossil" because it bears in its body so many primitive features 

 unchanged or only very slightly modified during its long ances- 

 try, yet it is by no means an antiquated animal in the sense that 

 it is out of touch with its environment. The Tapir indeed is 

 naturally stupid and uninteresting: that may be because we 

 have little interest in the lines along which the Tapir's intelli- 

 gence moves. The Hyrax on the other hand is intensely active, 

 easily tamed and learns with rapidity, having a natural bent 

 as it were for investigation and experimentation. Perhaps the 

 most charming part of Dr. Chalmers Mitchell's delightful book 

 The Childhood of Animals is that wherein he tells of the 

 activities and learning powers of his pet Hyrax. One of the 

 basal necessities of life for every animal is that it should be 

 able to adapt itself to its environment. 



