174 HYENAS. 



and at the present day, there is no need of such large animals as the Hyenas to perform their 

 necessary and useful task of clearing the earth from the 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 

 Hyenas, with their strong teeth, their powerful jaws, their rapid digestion, and their insatiable 

 appetite. For the animal substances 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 putrefying 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 Hyenas, which content themselves with the remains of large animals. 



In the semi-civilized countries of Africa and Asia, the Hyena is a public benefactor, swal- 

 lowing 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 Hyenas, which are found in Asia and Africa, such as the 

 Striped Hyena, sometimes called the Crested Hyena, or Strand Wolf, the Brown Hyena, 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 Hyena 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 endeavors 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 Hyena will attack and destroy them ; 

 but if they should turn to bay, will stand still and venture no farther. It will not even attack 

 a knee-haltered horse. So it often happens that the Hyena 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 disposition 

 throws a sad discredit on the animal, and they lavish upon the Hyena their copious vocabu- 

 lary 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 Gerard 

 relates an incident of Hyena hunting, which, although it reflects a little upon himself, he 

 narrates with much humor. 



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 astonish- 

 ment. The animal, a Hyena, made off as fast as it could, and the hunter, having left Ms 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 

 bushes 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 



