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THE CAPE HYRAX. 
Hyrax Capensis. — Gmf.lin. 
PLATE XVI. 
Covia capensis, Pallas, Miscellanea Zool. — Hyrax 
Capensis, Gmel. 
The Cape Hyrax is about the size of a Hare, 
but with shorter legs and more clumsy form ; it 
is of a uniform grayish brown, and along the 
back is marked with a darker band. The toes on 
the fore feet are only three in number, whereas in 
the last animal they were four, a difference which 
is now taken as one of the principal distinctions 
of the animals which inhabit the opposite portion 
of the great African continent. This animal was 
of frequent occurrence in the Cape of Good 
Hope, living in the clefts of rocks ; and in its 
motions, when retiring to its burrows, exhibiting 
many similarities to those of the common Rabbit. 
Major Smith gives the following description of 
a third species of Hyrax, under the title of H. 
arboreus, found in many of the forests of South 
Africa, and inhabiting the hollows of decayed 
trees. 
