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Hyaena venatica, BURCHEL. 

 PLATE XXIV. 



WE shall describe the Cape variety first, because it 

 was not only the first noticed, but its habits and 

 manners are likewise best known. This animal is 

 in stature equal to a tall greyhound, very high on 

 the legs in proportion to the length, and from the 

 hind quarters standing somewhat crouched, it ap- 

 pears as if the fore legs were longest ; the head is 

 broad, flat; the muzzle rather short, truncated, 

 with the under jaw very prominent ; the ears large, 

 oval, erect, black on the external surface, naked 

 on the internal, and with a pencil of upright white 

 hairs at the opening ; the neck is straight, with the 

 throat slightly maned, bearing the head, like in the 

 hyaena, apparently stiff, and, when running, it seems 

 to wag from side to side ; the back straight ; the 

 haunches gathered up, and the tail held out with a 

 sort of occasional convulsive shake at the extre- 

 mity; the abdomen full; the limbs as slender as 

 in the greyhound, bending with a great angle at the 

 joints, and well covered with hair. The colour is 



