DOG KIND. 61 



is nearly oif the size of a wolf; and has some simi- 

 litude to that animal in the shape of its head and 

 body. The head, at first sight, does not appear 

 to differ, except that the ears of the hyaena are 

 longer, and more without hair ; but, upon observ- 

 ing more closely, we shall find the head broader, 

 the nose flatter, and not so pointed. The eye* 

 are not placed obliquely, but more like those of 

 a dog. The legs, particularly the hinder, are 

 longer than those either of the dog or the wolf 

 and different from all other quadrupeds, in having 

 but four toes, as well on the fore-feet as on the 

 hinder. Its hair is of a dirty greyish, marked 

 with black, disposed in waves down its body. 

 Its tail is short, with pretty long hair : and imme- 

 diately under it, above the anus, there is an open- 

 ing into a kind of glandular pouch, which sepa- 

 rates a substance of the consistence, but not of 

 the odour, of civet. This opening might have 

 given rise to the error of the ancients, who assert- 

 ed, that this animal was every year, alternately, 

 male and female. Such are the most striking 

 distinctions of the hyaena, as given us by natura- 

 lists ; which, nevertheless, convey but a very con- 

 fused idea of the peculiarity of its form. Its 

 manner of holding the head seems remarkable ; 

 somewhat like a dog pursuing the scent, with the 

 nose near the ground. The head being held 

 thus low, the back appears elevated, like that of 

 the hog, which, with a long bristly band of hair 

 that runs all along, gives it a good deal the air 

 of that animal ; and it is probable that from this 

 similitude it first took its name, the word huoina 



