THE HYINA. 93 



brought so much to a point, and the eyes are placed 

 more like those of a dog : its hair is of a dirty greyish 

 colour, disposed in waves, and marked with black : its 

 tail is short, though the hair is long, which deceives 

 the eyes as to its length ; and near the insertion there 

 is a kind of pouch, which contains an odour in appear- 

 ance like civit, but very different in point of smell. 



The figure of this animal is completely uncouth, and 

 its disposition the most savage of the quadruped kind ; 

 a constant growl betrays the ferocity of its nature, 

 which is scarcely suspended whilst receiving food : the 

 legs of this creature are longer than the wolf's, and the 

 hinder ones exceed the front in length : it carries its 

 head towards the ground like a dog upon the scent, 

 which gives a prominent appearance to the back. — 

 When this sanguinary animal is feeding upon its prey, 

 the eyes glisten like two balls of fire ; the bristles upon 

 its back are all erected, and, with an horrid grin, it 

 shews its extended teeth ; its courage can only be 

 equalled by its ferocity, for it defends itself against the 

 lion, is a match for the panther, and seldom fails to 

 conquer the ounce. 



The hyaena is an obscure and solitary animal, and re- 

 sides in caverns in the most desolated rocks; though 

 taken at its birth it can never be tamed, and makes 

 equal depredation upon man and beast. Many fabu- 

 lous tales have been told of this animal, which is 

 chiefly to be found in the torrid zone ; but without in- 

 creasing its ferocious propensities by fiction, it has been 

 painted sufficiently obnoxious by adhering to truth. — 

 Like the jackal, it ransacks the new-made graves, and 

 delights in feeding upon the bodies of the dead. 



