DESULTORY SKETCHES IN NATURAL HISTORY. 63 



take advantage of any animal that manifests the least fear of them, 

 but are singularly cowardly, and their fierceness results from neces- 

 sity rather than choice, as they always evince a preference for 

 what they find dead. The common notion that they are un- 

 tameable, is devoid of foundation ; for, as the late excellent natu- 

 ralist, Mr. Bennett, remarked, (in his Tower Menagerie^) there is 

 even scarcely any animal that submits with greater facility to 

 the control of Man ; and they are even capable of much attach- 

 ment to persons who kindly treat them. We have seen both the 

 Striped and Spotted Hyaenas as gentle as Dogs, and freely handled 

 them ;* and they have been known to recognise a former master 

 after several year's absence, and demonstrate as much joy on the 

 occasion as could be evinced by any Dog. Sir J. Barrow even 

 informs us, in his journey to the Cape, that the Spotted Hyaena 

 has been tamed in the district of Schneuberg, where it is considered 

 more serviceable for the chace than the Dog, and fully equal to that 

 animal in intelligence and fidelity ; and Col. Sykes observes of the 

 Striped one {Turrus of the Mahrattas) that it is susceptible of the 

 same domestication as a Dog.t Their awkward-looking propor- 

 tions, however, unprepossessing aspect, and hatefully shrieking 

 voice, must ever prevent them from becoming favourite domestic 

 animals. 



Dr. Andrew Smith narrates a curious fact, concerning the tallow- 

 like secretion of the nates, of an individual of the Brown species {H. 

 brunnea) which he long possessed in confinement, and which fact 

 we have succeeded in ascertaining (after much fruitless inquiry) in 

 the instances of both the others. The animal used to relieve itself 

 of it by pressing that part always against a particular stone in its 

 prison, when it issued forth rather copiously, and immediately con- 

 gealed upon the stone. This substance appeared to be necessary, 

 taken into the stomach, to promote digestion ; for the Hyaena al- 

 ways resorted to it for that purpose after a meal, and regularly as it 

 arose from rest.J It may be borne in mind that the intestines of 

 these animals are unusually prolonged ; though the same occurs in 



just killed by a Hyaena. It had followed the giant brute for some time (as 

 appeared by the foot-marks), and had bitten it behind with its terrible jaws, 

 till the Rhinoceros fell and painfully died." — Expedition Il.y 6. 



• On such occasions, when fondled, they roll over upon the back like a 

 Spaniel, generally first sinking upon the knees : and some individuals shriek 

 and *' howl with delight" most horribly when thus noticed. 



+ Proceedings of the Zoological Society, 1830, p. 31. 



X Linn. Trans., vol. xv. 



