MAMMALIA. 



101 



with black ends, they impart to the organ a more or 

 less ringed appearance. The habits of the African 

 civet are by preference nocturnal. It is a good 

 climber, and although particularly fond of birds and 

 small quadrupeds, it does uot reject fruits, roots, and 

 other vegetable matters. 



FAMILY IV. 



In a zoological point of view, this family cannot be 

 considered as equivalent to any of the three foregoing 

 carnivorous groups. It is clearly 

 osculant between the Vivcrridse and 

 Felidse, resembling the cats in its 

 dental formula, and the civets in 

 nearly all other respects. In addition 

 to the usual six incisives and four 

 canines, the Hysenas have eighteen 

 molars, of which the anterior four- 

 teen, that is, eight above and six 

 below, are, according to the view of 

 Professor Owen, spurious ; whilst, of 

 the four remaining true molars, the 

 upper pair are tuberculated, those of 

 the lower series remaining sectorial 

 in their character. The Hyaenas are 

 further distinguished by their peculiar 

 gait, depending upon the paramount 

 lengthening of the anterior limbs as 

 compared with the hind legs. This 

 elongation is perhaps, on the whole, 

 more apparent than real ; nevertheless, 

 taken separately, the tibia and fibula of 

 the posterior extremity are shorter than the correspond- 

 ing radius and ulna of the fore-limb. The feet are 

 all tetradactylous. The ears are large, the eyes pro- 

 minent, and the tongue covered with horny papillae. 

 The body gradually declines from the shoulder towards 

 the tail, supporting a bushy mane on the neck and 

 central line of the back. There are fifteen or sixteen 

 pair of ribs. The tail is rather short, the anal glan- 

 dular pouches being deep and capacious. So far as 

 at present known, this family is exclusively confined 

 to the eastern hemisphere. Numerous fossil remains 

 of Hysenas occur in the pliocene deposits, and more 

 particularly in the ossiferous caverns of Great Britain 

 and central Europe. 



THE AARD-WOLF (Proteles Lalandii)fig. 29. 

 This is a very interesting animal, inasmuch as it con- 

 stitutes one of those transitional or aberrant forms 

 which serve to demonstrate the unity of plan pervading 

 all organized beings. The various species which in- 

 habit this planet, whether animal or vegetable, are not 

 to be regarded as creations representing so many 

 totally different designs, but they are rather to be 

 looked upon as special modifications of one common 

 archetypal plan. Speaking of secondary causes, we 

 may say that nature developes progressively, and in 

 accordance with the motto, "Nihilper saltum." Such 

 a view is at the same time quite consistent with the 

 notion that each animal the Aard-wolf, for example 

 is an independent entity, a distinct species, a 

 sepai-ate creation, an expression of the Divine will. 



Observe how closely this creature resembles several 

 other allied forms. In general appearance and attitude 

 it is like the true hysenas, and this apparent identity 

 is perhaps even more obvious in the dentition and in 

 the structure of the skeleton. In respect of its size, 

 the form of the head, and in the circumstance of its 

 excavating burrows for diurnal retreat, we notice its 

 fox-like qualities, while in several other particulars it 

 approaches the civets. The molars are small, and 

 vary in number from sixteen to twenty. The fore- 

 feet are pentadactylous, having the digit of the thumb 



Fig. 29. 



The Aard- Wolf (Proteles Lalandii). 



slightly raised. The hind-feet have only four toes. 

 The tail is comparatively short. The texture of the 

 fur is soft and woolly, except along the central line of 

 the back and neck, where it is long and rigid, and 

 forms an erectile mane, the individual hairs being 

 upwards of six inches long. The body displays a 

 yellowish ashy-brown colour, the sides being irregu- 

 larly banded with eight or ten dark-brown stripes, 

 whilst the legs are also lined with similar transverse 

 markings. Like its congeners, the habits of the Aard- 

 wolf are nocturnal, and it feeds on various kinds of 

 animal and vegetable food, and from the observations 

 of Sparrman, appears to be very partial to ants, thus 

 reminding us also of the insectivorous habits of the 

 bears. On the approach of daylight he retires to his 

 self-constructed subterraneous burrow, and there lies 

 concealed during the day. Aard-wolves are remark- 

 ably timid and shy ; and, as if to increase their security, 

 they not only make their burrows near each other, 

 but many are frequently found occupying the same 

 hole, which, however, may have several outlets, so 

 that they can all escape if disturbed. They are thus 

 gregarious in their habits, and are also swift runners, 

 notwithstanding the disproportion which exists between 

 the anterior and posterior extremities. 



THE STRIPED HYJENA (Hycena striata) Plate 9, 

 fig. 30. This is the most widely districted species, 

 being found in abundance in the greater part of central 

 Asia, Hindoostan, Asiatic Turkey, Persia, Syria, and 

 northern Africa. It is recognized by its brownish- 



