350 Zoological Society, 



skins to be those of a beautiful species of Hyana : but the few natu- 

 ralists who have examined the New World have not yet discovered 

 the Hyaena, and it would have been rash, with the slender data before 

 me, to have expressed a definitive opinion. Nevertheless on returning 

 to England and deliberately examining Azara's description of the 

 form and habits of the Canisjubatus, my original opinion is so much 

 strengthened that I am induced to submit the whole question to the 

 consideration of naturalists, in the hope that on an opportunity occur- 

 ring it may be taken advantage of to determine the primary generic 

 characters, with a view to the allocation of the animal into its exact 

 place in the digitigrade family. But to me it is a matter of indiffer- 

 ence whether or not the animal has the technical characters of Canis 

 or Hyana. Nature, in her wondrous chain of animated beings di- 

 spersed over the world, is never defective in a link (at least on the 

 great continents), for if the identical species of one continent be 

 wanting, in another we surely find its analogue. The Ostrich of 

 Africa has its analogue in America in the Rhea, and in the Emu and 

 Cassowary of Australia : the Llama replaces the Camel, and the Fe- 

 lis concolor, the Lion in America ; but the numerous cases are fami- 

 liar to all naturalists and need not be enumerated ; and with respect 

 to the Aguara Guazu (Canisjubatus), if it be not an Hycena, it is at 

 least the analogue of the Hyeena. The multitudinous reasons of Azara 

 already quoted against his two Zorros being Dogs, may be applied 

 almost verbatim in proof of one of them being an Hycena ; and in his 

 detailed description of the Aguara Guazu he mentions many of its 

 habits that are common to the Hycena vulgaris — its walk with long 

 paces, its absence of a predal disposition on living animals (Azara in- 

 stances poultry not being touched while passing within reach of the 

 animal he had chained up) in its wild state, not committing havock 

 amongst herds or lesser flocks, and its indifference to a meat or 

 vegetable diet, indeed its predilection for fruits and sugar cane. An 

 Hyana I brought from India with me, and which is now living in the 

 Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park, London, and which is as affec- 

 tionate to me as a spaniel dog w^ould be, was fed during the whole 

 voyage from India on boiled rice and a little ghee (liquid butter;) 

 and these instances of a community of habits between the Hyaena and 

 Canis jubatus could be greatly multiplied. If Azara's dental formula 

 be right, the Aguara Guazu cannot technically be an Hycena, and 

 it may be desirable to constitute it a subgenus ; but as I before said, 

 it will suffice if my speculations assist in any way to rivet a link in 

 the chain of nature." 



With respect to the skin of Felis Pardina Col. Sykes remarked. 



