THE STRIPED HY^NA. 



69 



are turned to account, and the driest bones are made to subserve many 

 uses. 



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 Hyaenas, 

 which content themselves with the remains of large animals. 



In the semi-civilized countries of Africa and Asia, the Hysena is a 

 public benefactor, swallowing with his accommodating appetite almost 

 every species of animal substance that can be found, and even crush- 

 ing to splinters between his iron jaws the bones which would resist the 

 attacks of all other carnivorous animals. 



Useful as is the Hysena when it remains within its proper bound- 

 aries and restricts itself to its proper food, it becomes a terrible pest 



The Striped Hy^na [Hycena striata). 



when too numerous to find suflicient nourishment in dead carrion. In- 

 cited by hunger, it hangs on the skirts of villages and encampments, 

 and loses few opportunities of making a meal at the expense of the in- 

 habitants. It does not openly oppose even a domestic ox, but endeav- 

 ors 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 cu- 

 rious habit of creeping as closely as possible to them, and then spring- 

 ing up suddenly just under their eyes. Should the startled animals 

 turn to flee, the Hyaena 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 Hy- 

 aena 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. 



The Striped Hy.ena is easily to be distinguished from its relations 



