-* IIvR'nas and Jackals 



pass the night on the trees close to the earth. I have 

 often tonncl a number of cinereous vultures, griffon- 

 vultures, and king-vultures forming an amicable addition 

 to the household of the young and old hya-nas. 



During the day, too, I have often seen hya-nas tearing 

 away at carcases, undisturbed by the hundreds of vultures, 

 marabous, and jackals all around. None of these: three 

 species had any fear of the others. All were engrossed 

 in satisfying their hunger as fast as possible. The jackals 

 as well as the hya-nas like to bury themselves in the 

 stomachs of the larger mammals. As darkness drew 

 nigh, the hya-nas would surround the camp, howling 

 dismally ; they were not in the least afraid of visiting 

 our premises by night to steal flesh, or even unappetising 

 .morsels such as skins or pieces of leather. 



The photographs I took by night show the greed 

 with which hya-nas pounce on a carcase. Their strength 

 is astonishing. A spotted hya-na can easily run off with 

 an ass, as the reader will see for himself from the accom- 

 panying illustration. Jlohm saw them steal a human 

 corpse and gallop off with it. 



I found the hya-nas timid and cautious when 1 tried 

 to photograph them feeding by night. As Holim remarks, 

 they keep at a distance so long as the 'hunter is within 

 range, bait the moment he goes out of" sight, it onl\ 

 tor a lew moments, the hya-nas are back again at tin- 

 carcase. The}' are never taken b\ surpri.se. being 

 possessed of very sensitive nostrils. 



\oung hya-nas are distinctly marked: when old they 

 lose their marks more or less, and their colouring becomes 

 VOL. 11. 445 o 



