i 







CHAPTER XXIIl 



Hyenas and Jackals 



A^THILE the striped hyaena is nirely to be seen 

 V V and is notable for its timidity, the spotted 

 hysna is to be met with all over East Africa. In con- 

 junction with the vultures and marabous, they act as 

 scavengers. They rarely leave a mammal of any size to 

 rot. Wherever there is a dead body, whether it be of 

 man or beast, the hycena is always to the fore. 



The animal-world of Africa is spread over immense 

 areas, and the animals vary their haunts, much as do the 

 nomadic races, according to the seasons. Thus it is that 

 hyaenas are to be found now in one region, now in another. 

 They congregate in great numbers wherever there is a 

 tamine, whether it be the result of drought or of war. 

 The larger beasts of prey — lions and leopards, for instance 

 — provide a large proportion of the hyai^na's food. The 

 hya:ina's keen scent draws him quickly to the spot where 

 the huge cats have left the remains of their prey. 



Hyaenas make away with even the largest carcases 

 at an extraordinary rate ; they can swallow immense 



439 



