SYRIAN HYRAX. 
145 - 
placed lower down on the side of the foot, so 
that the top of it arrives no further than the bottom 
of the toe next to it. The sole of the foot is di- 
vided in the centre by deep clefts, like the other* 
and this cleft reaches down to the heel, which it 
nearly divides. The whole of the fore foot is very 
thick* fleshy* and soft* and of a deep black colour, 
altogether void of hair, though the back or upper 
part of it is thick-covered like the rest of its body* 
down to where the toes divide, there the hair ends* 
so that these long toes very much resemble the 
fingers of a man. 
cc In the place of holes* it seems to delight in 
less close, or more airy places* in the mouths of 
- caves* or clefts in the rock, or where one pro- 
jecting, and being open before* affords a long 
retreat under it* without fear that this can ever 
be removed by the strength or operations of man. 
The ashkoko are gregarious* and frequently se- 
veral dozens of them sit upon the great stones at 
the mouth of caves, and warm themselves in the 
sun* or even come out and enjoy the freshness of 
the summer evening. They do not stand upright 
upon their feet* but seem to steal along as in fear* 
their belly being nearly close to the ground, ad- 
vancing a few steps at a time* and then pausing. 
They have something very mild* feeble* and timid* 
in their deportment; are gentle and easily tamed* 
though when roughly handled at the first* they bite 
Very severely. 
“ This animal is found plentifully on Mount 
Libanus. I have seen him also among the rocks 
at the Cape Mahomet, which divides the Elanitic 
from the Heroopolitic gulf* or gulf of Suez. In 
all places they seem to be the same ; if there is 
any difference it is in favour of the size and fat- 
ness which those in the Mountain of the Sun seem 
to enjoy above the others. What is his food I can- 
vol.- ii, u 
