THE order of animals known to naturalists as Hyracoidea (derived from the Greek ??a?, a Shrew, and e?d??, form) contains but one genus, called Hyrax. Belonging to this genus are but two or three species of small animals, which, however, are of considerable interest, both from their peculiar organisation, and from their mention four times in the Bible under the name of Shaphan, improperly translated Coney, which has given rise to considerable controversy, as to what animal was meant. Some persons considered, and naturally enough, that Coney meant nothing more or less than the Rabbit; but now no doubt exists, as has been shown from its characters and habits, that the animal referred to is the Daman, or Hyrax syriacus.

The following are the passages literally rendered, in which the Hyrax is mentioned in the Bible: “Likewise the Coney, because he cheweth the cud, and divideth not the hoof; he shall be unclean unto you” (Leviticus xi. 5). “But these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, and of them that divide and cleave the hoof only; the Camel, nor the Hare, nor the Coney; for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they shall be unclean unto you” (Deuteronomy xiv. 7). “The high mountains are for the Goats; the rocks are a refuge for the Conies” (Psalms civ. 18). “The Conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks” (Proverbs xxx. 26). With regard to the first passage, although the Hyrax certainly does not chew the cud, the peculiar way in which it moves its jaws, as it sits perched in a ruminating manner, so to speak, on some ledge of rock, would naturally suggest to the ignorant that it really was chewing the cud. In the third quotation, we read “the rocks are a refuge for the Conies.” This exactly suits the Hyrax, which is always found inhabiting rocky situations. The last extract also agrees with the known habits of the Hyrax. Here it is alluded to as being one of the four animals on earth who are small, but very wise. These four are the Ant, the Locust, the Spider, and the Coney. All travellers who have noticed the Hyrax are agreed that it is a most wary and crafty animal, and that the utmost caution is required even to obtain a view of it; and to kill one requires a most skilful and practised sportsman.

The Hyrax is a little animal clothed with a brownish fur, of about the size of an ordinary Rabbit, to which, indeed, it has some resemblance. It is allied to the Rhinoceros, the Tapir, and Rodents; but the whole form of the skeleton approaches more nearly to that of the two former than it does to any known species of the latter. LinnÆus, however, and other authors, classed it with the Rodents; but Cuvier, seeing that it more nearly approached the characters of the old group of animals called Pachydermata (thick-skinned animals), placed it with them. Now, however, it is assigned by Prof. Huxley to an order of its own named Hyracoidea; but it still is a doubtful question as to what should be done with it.

Of the several animals forming the genus, one, the Hyrax syriacus, the Coney of the Bible, is found from the coast of the Red Sea northwards through Syria, by Lebanon, and southwards into Arabia and Ethiopia. Another species, Hyrax capensis, the Cape Coney, is found at the Cape and east coast of Africa, extending from Abyssinia down the east coast southwards. Two other species are described from West Africa; but both probably belong to one genus.

Bruce, in his “Travels in Abyssinia,” tells us that the Ashkoko, which is understood to be the same as the Daman (Hyrax syriacus), is found in Ethiopia, in the caverns of the rocks, and under the large stones in the Mountain of the Sun, behind the queen’s palace at Koscam. He also informs us that it is of common occurrence in many other rocky places of Abyssinia, and he says that it does not make holes like Rabbits or Rats, because its toes are not adapted for so doing, and that it is a very timid and gentle creature, stealing along a few paces, and then stopping, as if to see that the coast is clear.

Bruce also states that apparently the same species inhabits Mount Libanus, and the rocks of Cape Mohammed, which divides the Elanitic from the Heroopolitic Gulf, or Gulf of Suez from that of Akabah, and that the only difference he saw was in the greater size and fatness of those of the Mountain of the Sun.

“The Hyrax capensis,” writes Mr. Reade, “is found living at the Cape of Good Hope, inhabiting the hollows and caves of the rocks, both on the hill-sides and on the sea shore, a little above high-water mark. It seems to live in families, and in its wild state is remarkably shy. In the cold weather it is fond of coming out of its hole and warming itself in the sun on the side of a rock, and in summer it enjoys the breeze on the top of the hills, but in both instances, as well as when it feeds, a sentinel is always placed on the look-out, generally an old male, which gives notice of any approach of danger by a long shrill cry.

“Its principal food is the young tops of shrubs, especially those which are aromatic, but it also eats herbs, grass, and the tops of flowers. To eat it tastes much like a Rabbit. It is recorded that one gentleman caught two young ones which he kept for some time. They became very tame, and as they were allowed the run of the house would follow him about, jump on to his lap, or creep into his bed for the sake of the warmth. One brought home by Mr. Hennah would also run inquisitively about the cabins, climbing up and examining every person and thing, but startled by any noise, it would run away and hide itself. When shut up for long, it became savage and snarled and tried to bite at everything that came in its way. This animal, both when wild as well as when tame, is very cleanly in its habits. From its faintly crying in its sleep it may be supposed that it dreams. It has also been heard to chew its food at night. When tame it will eat a variety of things, the leaves of plants, bruised Indian corn, raw potatoes, bread, and onions, and will greedily lick up salt. The one brought home by Mr. Hennah was very sensible of the cold, for when a candle was placed near its cage, it would come as close as possible to the bars, and sit still to receive as much warmth as it could. I am inclined to think that the female does not produce more than two young ones at a time, from having observed in several instances but two following the old ones. Its name at the Cape is the Dasse, which is, I believe, the Dutch for a Badger.”

In structure, the skull of the Hyrax approaches more nearly to that of the Ungulata (animals with hoofs), especially to that of the Rhinoceros, than it does to that of any of the Rodents. The nose of the Hyrax, however, not having any horn to support, the nasal bones are not thickened, as they are in the Rhinoceros. There is a marked distinction between the maxillary, or upper jaw-bones of the Hyrax and those of the Rodents, the extent of the former being much smaller. In the former, also, there are two parietal bones, as compared with one in the latter. The joint, or condyle of the lower jaw, differs from that of the Rodents, in which it is compressed longitudinally, while in the Hyrax it is compressed transversely, as in the Ungulata, being also applied to a plane surface of the temporal bone, whereby a motion more or less horizontal is permitted. The Hyrax has no canine teeth. The upper incisors resemble those of Rabbits and Hares in number, which are four in the adult, and those of Rodents generally in the possession of persistent pulps. In shape they approach more to the form of the canines of the Hippopotamus by terminating in a point. The number of lower incisors is also four, and they are procumbent somewhat like those of the Hog. The grinders, both in number and form, resemble those of the Rhinoceros.

With regard to the number of ribs, the Hyrax approaches nearer to the Ungulata and Proboscidea than it does to the Rodents. It departs from the former in the number of the vertebrÆ and form of the pelvis; but again approaches them in the form of the femora (thigh bones), and also in the formation of the feet; the toes are four in front and three behind, as in the Tapir, and they are supplied with hoofs, or rounded hoof-like nails. They are without collar-bones (clavicles). The body of the Hyrax is covered with thick hair, which is here and there beset with bristles, and the tail is represented by a mere tubercle. No remains of the Hyrax have yet been found in a fossil state.