THE STRIPED OR CRESTED HYANA. 219 
decaying carcasses which cumber its surface and poison its air, for in our utilitarian age 
even the very hairs from a cow’s hide are turned to account, and the driest bones are 
made to subserve many uses. We need not the Hyznas, with their strong teeth, their 
powerful jaws, their rapid digestion, and their insatiable appetite. For the animal sub- 
stances which are cast out unburied on our land are generally either eaten or buried by 
certain of the insect tribes, who are of a verity visible providences to us, assimilating 
into their own being, or that of their progeny, the putrefyi ing matter that, but for their 
providential interference, would pour out clouds of poisoned gases, rife with pestilence 
and disease. 
In those countries, as well as in our own, there are carnivorous and flesh-burying 
insects, which consume the smaller animal substances; but the rough work is left to 
those industrious scavengers the Hyznas, which content themselves w vith the remains of 
large animals. 
In the semi-civilized countries of Africa and Asia, the Hyena is a public benefactor, 
swallowing with his accommodating appetite almost every species of animal substance 
that can be found, and even crushing to splinters between his iron jaws the bones which 
would resist the attacks of all other carnivorous animals. 
There are several species of Hyzenas, which are found in Asia and Africa, such as the 
Striped Hyzena, sometimes called the Crested Hyzena, or Strand Wolf, the Brown Hyzena, 
and the Tiger Wolf, or Spotted Hyena. The habits of all these animals are very similar. 
The animals comprising this group are remarkable for their slouching, shambling gait, 
which is caused by the disproportion that exists between their legs. The fore-legs, which 
are used for digging, are powerful and well developed, but the hinder pair are so short 
that the line of the back slopes suddenly downwards from the hips, and gives to the 
creature a most sneaking and cowardly look. There are only four toes on each foot. 
Useful as is the Hye ena when it remains within its proper boundaries, and restricts 
itself to its proper food, it becomes a terrible pest when too numerous to find sufficient 
nourishment in dead carrion. Incited by hunger, it hangs on the skirts of villages and 
encampments, and loses few opportunities of making a meal at the expense of the 
inhabitants. It does not openly oppose even a domestic ox, but endeavours to startle its 
intended prey, and cause it to take to flight before it will venture upon an attack. In 
order to alarm the cattle it has a curious habit of creeping as closely as possible. to them, 
and then springing up suddenly just under their eyes. Should the startled animals turn 
to flee, the Hyzena will attack and destroy them; but if they should tw to bay, will 
stand still and venture no farther. It will not even attack a knee-haltered horse. So it 
often happens that the Hyzna destroys the healthy cattle which can run away, and is 
afraid to touch the sickly and maimed beasts which cannot flee, and are forced to stand 
at bay. 
Among the warlike tribes that inhabit the greater part of Africa this cowardly dis- 
position throws a sad discredit on the animal, and they lavish upon the Hyena their 
copious vocabulary of abusive terms. Even a weapon which has been used for the 
purpose of killing a Hyena is held by them as entirely defiled, and rendered unfit for 
the use of a warrior. Jules Gérard relates an incident of Hyena hunting, which, although 
it reflects a little upon himself, he narrates with much humour. 
He had left the encampment, and was proceeding hurriedly along the path, when he 
suddenly came upon a rough, hairy animal, which had been surprised by daybreak, and 
was shambling along towards its home with a limping, hobbling gait, and an air of 
blank astonishment, The animal, a Hyzena, made off as fast as it could, and the hunter, 
having left his gun with an attendant who was lingering behind, was fain to draw his 
sabre, and charge the retreating beast as he best could. The Hyena was too quick for 
him, and plunging among the Dushes disappeared into a cavity at the foot of a rock. 
The hunter was determined to secure the animal if he could, so he tied his horse to a 
bush, and crawled into the little cavern. When fairly inside he found that he was 
within a deserted stone quarry, where he could stand erect and freely use his arms. The 
cavern was so dark, however, that he could not see the Hyena, and the only indication 
of its presence was ‘afforded by its teeth grinding upon the sword-blade, and endeavouring 
