CLASS 1. MAMMALIA: ORDER 11. PACHYDERM ATA. 651 
THK Si'EIAK DAMAN. 
THE HYEACID^. 
The animals of this family, called Damans, are about the size of a hare, and on account of their 
general appearance have been regarded as belonging to the Rodentia, but their dentition and 
osseous structure place them clearly among the Pachydermata, and between the rhinoceros and 
tapir. There is but the single genus, DAMAN or HYR AX, Ay ; of this there are several 
species. 
The Syrian Hyrax or Daman, Hyrax Syriacus, is a foot long, of a brownish gray color above 
and white below. The skin without the hair is of a blackish violet. It is gregarious, lives in 
caves, and is a mild, timid, and feeble creature. It delights to gather by dozens around its 
dwellings and bask in the sun. It is found in Syria, Mount Sinai, and Abyssinia, and is supposed 
to be identical with the AshJcoko of Bruce. There is little doubt that it is the Saphan or Shaphan 
of Scripture, translated coney ^ in Proverbs xxx. 26 : " The conies arc but a feeble folk, yet make 
they their houses in the rock." 
The Klipdas, H. Capensis, is found at the Cape of Good Hope, inhabiting the hollows and 
crevices of rocks. It feeds on herbs, grass, tops of flowers, and young shoots, particularly of aro- 
matic plants. It lives in families on the rocky slopes of hills and mountains, sometimes near the 
sea ; it is shy .and wild, and when abroad keeps an old member of the flock on the look-out as a 
sentinel ; when he sees any thing dangerous he gives the alarm by a shrill cry. It is very clean 
and neat in its habits. The flesh resembles that of the rabbit. 
Another species, the Tree-Daman, H. arboreus, is found in Western and Southern Africa, and 
in Mozambique. It is of tlie size of a large rabbit. Specimens of the three preceding species 
have been in the London Zoological Gardens. 
Two other species are mentioned, the Dongola Daman, M. ruficejjs, and the Eiwia or 
Forest Daman, H. sylvestris. 
