THE SYRIAN HYRAX. 
193 
confined, on bread, roots, fruits, and herbs. It 
appears to have little intelligence, and little fear. 
When at liberty, it has the same inquisitive and 
searching habits, and comes freely to the hand 
which is held out to it. 
The Askoko of Bruce is given as a synonym for 
this animal. On this account we think it worth 
while to transcribe his description of its habits, &c. 
which agree nearly with what is above mentioned. 
“ This curious animal is found in Ethiopia, in 
the caverns of the rocks, or under the great stones 
in the Mountain of the Sun, behind the Queen’s 
palace at Koscam. It is also frequent in the deep 
caverns in the rocks in many other places in 
Abyssinia. It does not burrow, or make holes, 
as the rat and rabbit ; nature having interdicted 
him this practice, by furnishing him with feet, the 
toes of which are perfectly round, and of a soft, 
pulpy, tender substance ; the fleshy parts of the 
toes project beyond the nails, which are rather 
broad than sharp, much similar to a man’s nails ill 
grown ; and these appear to be given him rather 
for the defence of his soft toes, than for any active 
use in digging, to which they are by no means 
adapted. 
“ The whole of the fore-foot is very thick, 
fleshy, and soft, and of a deep black colour, alto- 
gether void of hair ; though the back, or upper 
part of it, is thick covered like the rest of its 
yol. xxni. 
N 
