Game Animals of India, etc. 



to ascertain the truth of the assertion that the binturong 

 utters a weird and piercing cry. 



THE STRIPED HY^NA 



{Hycena striata) 



Native Names. — Lakar-bagha, Lakar-bagh or Lakra, 

 Jhirak^ Hondar, Harvagh^ and Taras, Hindus- 

 tani ; Taras, Mahrathi and Sindi ; Cherak, 

 SiNDi ; Aptar, Baluchi ; Renhra of the Gonds ; 

 Hebar-kula, Ho-kol ; Derko-tud in Rajmehal ; 

 Dhopre, KoRKA ; Kirba and Kut-kirba, Canarese ; 

 Dumul-gundu and Korna-gundu, Telegu ; Kalu- 

 thai-korachiy Tam i l. 



(Plate ix, fig. 2) 



Hyaenas are among the few animals for which no 

 one has a good word to say ; and it must be confessed 

 that they are attractive neither in personal appearance 

 nor in habits. Nevertheless they are useful creatures, 

 being some of the most efficient of all scavengers, since 

 their powerful cone -like teeth enable them to crack 

 bones of considerable calibre, and thus devour skeletons 

 which are left by other animals. In return for these 

 benefits, the striped hyaena, when captured, is cruelly 

 maimed and tortured by some at least of the natives 

 of India. 



Although there may be some confusion between 

 the spotted African hyaena and the hunting-dog of the 

 same country, no one in India is likely to mistake a 

 hyaena for any other animal, or to fail to recognise one 

 when met with, either alive or dead. Consequently, 

 there is no need to describe the features by which these 

 animals are distinguished from cats and civets on the 

 one hand and dogs and wolves on the other. Neither is 

 it necessary to record in detail the specific characters of 



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