The Striped Hytena. 



43 



thieves, awed by the greater strength of their new mess- 

 mate, retire to a distance ; and hence the fabulous story 

 of their attendance on the lion, to provide for his food. 

 These animals are always seen in large flocks of forty 

 or fifty ; and hunt, like hounds in full cry, from evening 

 till morning. In the absence of other food they drag 

 the dead out of their tombs, and feed greedily on putrid 

 corpses; but, notwithstanding their natural ferocity, it 

 is said that, when taken young, they may be easily 

 tamed, and, like dogs, they love to be fondled, wag 

 their tails, and show a considerable degree of attachment 

 to their masters. They are common in many parts 

 of the East : and as they act as scavengers, the people 

 do not annoy them in their nocturnal visits. 



THE STRIPED HYAENA. (Hycena Striata.) 



THIS animal was long supposed to be the _ most savage 

 and untractable of all quadrupeds : but it is now found 

 that he may be tamed. He is covered with long, coarse, 

 and rough ash- coloured hair, marked with long black 

 stripes, from the back downwards; the tail is very 

 hairy. His teeth and jaws are so constructed as to 



