64. ANIMALS OF THE 



among many other absurdities, have been asserted 

 of this quadruped ; and which I mention to show 

 the natural disposition of mankind, to load those 

 that are already but too guilty, with accumulated 

 reproach. 



[Mr Pennant describes a variety of this species, 

 which he calls the spotted hycena. It has a large 

 and flat head ; some long hairs above each eye ; 

 very long whiskers on each side of the nose ; a 

 short black mane ; hair on the body short and 

 smooth; ears short, and a little pointed, their 

 outside black, inside cinereous ; face and upper 

 part of the head black ; body and limbs reddish- 

 brown, marked with distinct black round spots ; 

 the hind legs with black transverse bars ; the tail 

 short, black, and full of hair. It inhabits Guinea, 

 Ethiopia, and the Cape; lives in holes in the 

 earth, or clefts of the focks; preys by night; 

 howls horribly ; breaks into the folds, and kills 

 two or three sheep ; devours as much as it can, 

 and carries away one for a future repast; will 

 attack mankind, scrape open graves, and devour 

 the dead. Bosnian has given this creature the 

 name of jackall ; by which Buffon being misled, 

 makes it synonymous with the common jackall. 

 This hysena is called the tiger-wolf by the co- 

 lonists at the Cape, where it is a very com- 

 mon and formidable beast of prey. 



Of this animal, the following story is related 

 by Dr Sparmann, in his Voyage to the Cape, for 

 the truth of which, however, he does not entirely 

 vouch. 



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