194 
THE SYRIAN H YR AX. 
body, down to where the toes divide, and the hair 
ends ; so that these long round toes very much 
resemble the fingers of a man. 
« In 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 projecting, 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 Askoko is 
gregarious, and frequently several 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 even- 
ing. They do not stand upright upon their feet, 
but seem to steal along as in fear, their belly being 
nearly close to the ground, advancing a few steps 
at a time, and then pausing. They have some- 
thing very mild, feeble like, and timid in their 
deportment ; are gentle, and easily tamed, though, 
when roughly handled at first, they bite very 
severely. 
“ This animal is found plentifully on Mount 
Libanus. I have seen him also among the rocks 
at the Pharan Promontorium, or 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 fatness, which those in the 
Mountain of the Sun seem to enjoy above the 
