217 



CAPE HYRAX. 



Hyrax Capensis: H. palmanm unguibus planis, plant arum 

 vnico suhulafo. lAn, Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 166. 



Grey-brown Hyrax, paler beneath^ with flat nails on the fore 

 feet, and a single sharp curved claw on the hind feet. 



Cavia Capensis. Pall. misc. 34. t. 3. spicil. 2.p, 22. t. 2, 



Marmotte du Cap de Bonne Esperance. Btif. Suppl. 3. p. J 77^ 

 pL 29. 



Cape Cavy. Pennant Qimdr, 2. jj. g6. 



This is an animal of which the natural history 

 and manners have but lately been well under- 

 stood. It is a native of mountainous situations 

 about the Cape of Good Hope ; residing in the 

 hollows of rocks, and leaping with great agility 

 about the prominences of the irregular regions it 

 frequents, though its general or M^alking pace is 

 not remarkably quick. Its size is nearly that of 

 a rabbet, and in colour it much resembles that 

 animal, but is whitish beneath. It is of a thick 

 form, with short limbs, of which the hinder are 

 longer than the fore, and is perfectly destitute of 

 a tail. The head is rather small ; the nose di- 

 vided by a furrow ; the ears short and rounded ; 

 the eyes large and black ; the fore feet divided 

 into four lobes or toes of a soft or pulpy nature, 

 and furnished with flattish, rounded nails : the 

 hind feet are of similar structure, but have only 

 three lobes, of which the interior is furnished 

 with a sharp crooked claw, while the others have 

 nails similar to those on the fore feet. 



