NATURAL HISTORY. 305 



er animal, and seemingly more daring. It sometimes 

 attacks men, carries off cattle, follows the flocks, 

 breaks open the sheep-cots by night, and ravages 

 with an insatiable voracity. Its eyes are keen and 

 piercing, and it is said to see best at night. If we 

 may credit all the naturalists who have treated of this 

 animal, its cry resembles the sobs or retchings of a 

 man in a violent fit of vomiting; but, according to 

 Kcempfer, who was an ear-witness of it, it sounds 

 like the lowing of a calf. 



The hyaena defends itself against the lion, is not 

 afraid of the panther, and attacks the ounce, which is 

 incapable of resisting it. When at a loss for other 

 prey, it scrapes up the earth with its feet, and devours 

 the carcases both of animals and men, which, in the 

 countries that it inhabits, are interred promiscuously 

 in the fields. We find this creature in almost all the 

 hot climates of Africa, and of Asia ; and it seems 

 probable that the animal called farassc, at Madagas- 

 car, which resembles the wolf in figure, but which is 

 larger, stronger, and more cruel, may be the hyccna. 



Of few animals, have so many absurd stories been 

 told as of this. The ancients represent it as being 

 male and female alternately. It appears, however, 

 that the circumstance which gave rise to this fable, is, 

 the opening in the form of a cleft, which both the 

 male and the female have, independently of the parts 

 destined for the purposes of generation. It has been 

 affirmed too, that this creature could imitate the human 

 voice, that it remembered the names of the shepherds, 

 called to them, charmed them, rendered them motion- 

 less ; that, at the same time, it gave chase to the 

 shepherdesses, made them forget their flocks, and be 

 distracted with love, &c. All these things might 



