76 



city of the stomach enables them to carry ofF great quantities of 

 herbage to masticate at their leisure, tlie great development of 

 these receptacles compensating at once botli for the absence or 

 rudimentary condition of the cheek pouches and for the less nu- 

 tritious quality of the food. 



Col. Sykes reminded the Society that, in submitting his Catalogue 

 of the Mammalia observed in Dukhun, East Indies, he took occa- 

 sion to coniment on tlie popular error respecting the ferocious and 

 untameable disposition of the common Hycena, Hycena vulgaris, Cuv. 

 His opinions vvere founded partly on observation of a cub which he 

 had domesticated, and partly on facts communicated by his friends. 

 He went on to statė as fohovvs: 



" Two years have elapsed since I placed in the Gardens of the 

 Society the above-mentioned cub (a female), which has now attained 

 its full growth, and I am happy to be enabled to confirm the opinions I 

 formerly advanced. In India it was ailovved to run about my house, 

 and on board ship it was released from its cage two or three times 

 a day, to play with the sailors and gatnbol witli the dogs. J t early 

 recognised niy person and voice, and would obey vvlien calied ; and 

 in general was as playful and good-humoured as a puppy. My visits 

 to it in the Gardens have been rare, and at long intervals, nor have 

 I ever carried it food; I anticipated, therefore, that it would out- 

 grow its early associations, and that I should be to it as any other 

 stranger; but it has alvvays greeted me not oniy as an acquaintance, 

 but as an old friend ; and if 1 am to jndge from its agitation and 

 peculjar cries, the animal's recognition is that of afFection. 



*' On Sunday lašt it was asleep in its cage when I approached. 

 On calling to it by its name it looked up, distinguished me in the 

 crowd, started on its legs, and on my applying my hand to its mouth 

 to smell to, it threvv itself do\vn against the bars, rubbed its head, 

 neck, and back against my hand, and then started on its legs and 

 bounded about its cage, uttering short cries. On ceasing to speak 

 to it, and moving avvay, it stopped, and looked wistfully after me> 

 nor resumed its motions until 1 addressed it again. Its manifestą* 

 tions of joy vvere so unequivocal, as to excite the surprise of a great 

 number of bystanders. As these pleasing traits in the disposition 

 of a caluraniated animal appeared so new to those vvho surrounded 

 me on that occasion, they may possibly be deemed of sufficient in- 

 terest to be vvorthy of extended promulgation by record in our Pro- 

 ceedings. 



" I take occasion to repeat my conviction, that association with 

 man, constant kindness, and abundance of food, vvill suffice not only 

 to modify, and indeed eradicate, the vvorst traits in the disposition 

 of any animal of the higher classes, but give birth to others of which 

 their natures were not deemed susceptible." 



