CLASS MAMMALIA. 



255 



FIG. 443. 



ffyS'na vulga'ris. Hyena. 



meal. Its characteristic is craftiness.* Its maternal in-" 

 stinct is also highly developed, and it will peril its life 

 to save its young. Several species are often found in- 

 habiting the same locality. 



The Hyenas are peculiar to the warmer regions of 

 the Old World. The enor- 

 mous strength of their jaws 

 and the size of their blunt 

 molar teeth, enable them to 

 crush the largest bones, 

 which they swallow with- 

 out mastication. In adult 

 animals, the vertebrse of 

 the neck often grow to- 

 gether, enabling them to 

 endure a violent strain. The toes are four, with blunt, 

 non-retractile claws. The bending of the hind legs 

 makes them seem shorter than the fore legs and gives 

 an awkward shuffle to the pace. The Hyena is the true 

 scavenger among the mammals, removing offal which 

 would endanger the health of man. 



The Cats, typical of this order, are all digitigrade 

 (di'glt i grade) [toe- walkers]. Lest their claws should be 

 blunted by coming in contact with the ground or im- 

 pede their progress by getting entangled in the grass, 



* A hunted fox will run a long way in a straight line, then doubling on 

 its track, suddenly spring off to a great distance one side and quietly steal 

 away, while the hounds are eagerly following up the scent ; it will leap from 

 tree to tree, and hide in some convenient hollow ; it will perfume itself with 

 any odorous substance it may meet, in order to deceive the dogs; it will run 

 at full jump to the crest of a hill, then quickly lie down, while the headlong 

 speed of its pursuers carries them pell-mell to the bottom ; and even if 

 caught it will feign death, permitting itself to be handled, kicked about and 

 carried away, without showing any sign of life until a chance of escape offers, 

 when it will suddenly dash off. to the intense surprise of those whom it has so 

 cleverly duped. 



