118 



very large ; their upper flesh-tooth has a small tubercle within and in 

 front j but the lower one has none, presenting two stout cutting points ; 

 behind it is one tubercular molar in the upper jaw, none in the lower 

 jaw. The hind legs are much bent, so that the hind quarters are always 

 lower than the shoulders. The feet have usually four strong claws, 

 which are not retractile. The tongue is rough with recurved spines. 

 They mostly occur in Africa, one only extending to Asia. Blyth con- 

 siders that they are physiologically most nearly related to the Civets, as 

 shown by their rough tongue, the form of their caecum, the structure of 

 their reproductive organs, their anal pouch, and style of colouring. 



Gen. HYAENA. 



f> s* 11 A. A. 11 



Char. Incisors ; canines ; prsemolars _ ; molars 



o o 1 1 o o 1 1 



feet all with four toes. Other characters those of the sub-family. 



Hyaenas have a short solid skull, short muzzle, the cervical vertebrae 

 often anchylosed ; 15 to 16 pairs of ribs ; tibia and fibula very short ; 

 claws stout and blunt. Beneath the tail is a deep pouch analogous to that 

 in the Civets, but not secreting an odorous substance. Their temporal 

 muscles are very large and powerful, as are those of the neck, and their 

 jaws and teeth are strong enough to enable them to crush large bones. 

 They are quite nocturnal in their habits, living in holes and caverns, and 

 feeding chiefly on the remains of carcasses, but they not unfrequently carry 

 off dogs. They are easily tamed, are even susceptible of attachment ; and 

 it is stated that tame individuals are occasionally used as watch-dogs. 



There is only one species in India, which is spread over great part of 

 Asia and Africa. 



118. Hyaena striata. 



ZIMMERMANN. H. vulgaris, DESMAREST. ELLIOT, Cat. 24. BLYTH, 

 Cat. 138. Taras, H. (in the South) and Mahr. Hundar in some parts. 

 Jhirak, H., in Hurriana. Lakhar baghar, H., in the North of India ; 

 also LoJcra bdg ) or LaJcar bdgh ; also Lakra bdgh.-^-NauJcra bdgk, Ben. 

 Harvdgh, in some parts. Rerd in Central India. Kirba and Kat- 

 kirba, Can. Korna gandu, Tel. 



THE STRIPED HYJENA. 



Descr. Of a pale yellowish-gray colour, with transverse tawny 

 stripes ; neck and back maned. 



