HYENAS 89 



in holes and caves. I have come across individuals 

 during the heat of the day lying in forest pools, com- 

 pletely immersed except their heads. They are very 

 heavy sleepers, and it is often possible to approach quite 

 close without disturbing them when thus occupied. 

 When in quest of food they often follow lions and troops 

 of hunting dogs about the country, and snatch every 

 opportunity for a stolen repast. They have wonderfully 

 keen noses, and can detect the slightest taint in the air 

 at a great distance, when their signal cry conveys the 

 information to others still farther away. It is certain 

 also that, especially in cloudy weather, they occasionally 

 make towards any spot above which they have noticed 

 vultures gathering, recognizing in this a tolerably sure 

 indication of the presence of a carcass. 



Although a large number of Spotted Hyaenas may some- 

 times be found collected at a " kill," or following in the 

 tracks of some of the larger game-killing animals, it is quite 

 incorrect to assume that they are sociable by habit. 

 They are, in fact, solitary animals, and when a number 

 of individuals are drawn together for a common purpose 

 they separate, and depart singly, or in pairs at most, in 

 different directions as soon as that purpose has been 

 fulfilled. A family party consisting of father, mother, 

 and offspring, a common sight among some kinds of 

 animals, is outside my experience as regards hyaenas. 



The cubs seem to remain in company with their 

 mothers until about half grown, and I think that in a 

 wild state seldom more than one of each litter arrives at 

 maturity. 



Spotted Hyaenas live principally upon carrion and 

 bones, the latter being first cracked and then crunched 

 up by the powerful jaws as easily as another animal 

 would dispose of a piece of meat. Not until a tame 



