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THE taxonomic relationship between the elephant and the hyrax is not a particularly close one1,2. Nevertheless, it is interesting to compare the two animals with respect to certain traits ‘new’ to taxonomy. Recently we obtained whole blood from adult hyrax (Procavia habessinica jacksoni) and adult elephant (Loxodonta africana africana) and performed starch-gel electrophoresis of the plasma and hæmoglobin. The methods have been described previously3. Human hæmoglobin A was added to plasma samples in order to demonstrate haptoglobin bands. The sample of elephant blood was taken from an artery of the ear and collected into a tube containing anticoagulant. The animal was shot by a staff member of the Galana River Game Management Scheme before it was bled.