66 DESULTORY SKETCHES IN NATURAL HISTORY. 



tions, during the nights. In the countries inhabited by the Caffres 

 they are yeiy numerous and daring, generally approaching the vil- 

 lages during the night, and attempting, either by force or stratagem, 

 to pass the wattles by which the houses are defended, when, if suc- 

 cessful, they not unfrequently carry off some young child of the fa- 

 mily. Scars and marks in different parts of the body often testify to 

 the traveller how dangerous a foe the natives have in this animal.*" 



The ordinary Fossil Hyjena of Europe 

 fH. speloea, Goldfuss),f 



Was very closely allied to the preceding species, but still larger : its 

 remains occur rather plentifully in cavern deposits, in various parts 

 of Europe, including the British isles. No bones of this genus have 

 hitherto been found in America, where the geographical distribution 

 of the living Viverridoe renders it probable that Hyaenas never 

 existed. J 



The rest of the living Hycenince have a conspicuous dorsal mane, 

 and amazingly stout wiry moustaches. Their ears are long and 

 pointed, and they are marked with dark transverse stripes. 



The Brown Hy^na, 



(H. brunnea, Thunberg ; H. villosaj Smith ; H. Jusca, Desm. ; 

 also quoted by Lesson as H. rufa, Cuv.) 



Is the second Cape species, and intermediate in its dentition to the 

 two other living Hyaenas ; differing from the Spotted in the greater de- 



• Catalogue of the late South African Museum. 



•f Various other extinct species have been described, as H. spelaa major^ 

 Goldfuss; H. prisca (Hyene rayee fossile), M. de Serres; H. intermedia, ibid. ; 

 H. Perrierii, Brav. Croiz. and Job ; H. avernensis, ibid. ; and H. dubia, ibid. : 

 the whole of these European. 



4: The genus Bassaris of Lichten stein, ranged by De Blainville and others 

 near the Musangs (Paradoxurus), appears to be a true Plantigrade, allied to 

 the Racoons and Coatimondis ; an idea first suggested to us by our valued 

 friend Mr. Waterhouse, the able curator of the Zoological Society's museum. 

 Since penning this, we have met with a brief notice of the anatomy of Bas- 

 saris, by Prof, de Blainville, in the Annates d'Anatom.ie et Physiologic for Fe- 

 bruary, 1839, p. 58, which completely sets at rest the question, in our mind^ 

 of the animal being a true Plantigrade." 



