54 SOUTH-WESTERN ASIA 



ichneumon, and in the Mediterranean region is much paler in colour than in the 

 Indian region, where it varies from light grey to dark brown, and is sprinkled with 

 small white or yellow dots. The common Indian mongoose (H. mungo) occurs in 



Baluchistan. 



A distant relative of the mongoose, the European genet (Genetta 

 vulgaris) inhabits southern France, Spain, parts of south-western Asia, 

 and North Africa. An exceedingly supple animal with graceful movements, and a 

 good mouser, it is domesticated in Barbary, and occasionally also in southern Europe. 

 Like other genets it has a valuable fur. The prevailing colour is light grey, with 

 three or four longitudinal rows of oblong blackish spots on the sides. Above and 

 beneath the eyes and at the base of the upper jaw are white spots, and the tail is 

 marked with white and black rings. The length of the head and body is about 

 19 inches, and that of the tail 16 inches. 



The hyaenas, which in former times were spread over the greater 

 ripe ysen ^ ^ Europe, and eastwards into China, are at the present day 

 confined to the warmer countries of the Old World, ranging from Africa into India. 

 Only one of the three existing species, the striped hyaena, inhabits both Africa and 

 Asia ; the other two, the spotted hyaena and the brown hyaena, being confined to 

 Africa. The striped hyaena (Hyama striata) was widely spread in early times 

 over the greater part of Europe, although less common there than the spotted 

 species. At the present day it is abundant in the northern and central provinces of 

 India, but rare in lower Bengal and unknown in Ceylon. From India it ranges 

 through Baluchistan, Persia, and Mesopotamia, to the Caucasus, as well as through 

 Arabia, Syria, and Palestine. In Africa it inhabits Egypt, Abyssinia, and the 

 countries north of the Sahara, while in east central Africa it is represented by the 

 race known as H. striata schillingsi. 



The striped hyaena, which has a total length of about 5 feet from the nose to 

 the end of the tail, is distinguished by its large pointed ears, and the erect mane 

 extending from the head to the base of the long-haired tail. The hind-legs are 

 shorter and have smaller feet than the fore-limbs. In colour it is dirty grey, striped 

 with black on the sides and legs. This species prefers open country with hills, or 

 sandy plains, and in Syria and Palestine is often found among the tombs in the 

 rocks. In India, where it often frequents ruins, it hides in caves or among the 

 rocks on the slopes of ravines. Leading in the main a nocturnal life, it is some- 

 times seen by daylight, especially early in the morning or late in the evening. 

 During the night it covers long distances, no tracks being more common than 

 those of this animal, which might be mistaken for dogs' spoor, were it not for the 

 smaller impressions of the hind-feet. Unlike the spotted species, the striped 

 hyaena leads a solitary life, and it is seldom that more than one or two are seen at 

 a time. 



_. . Among the insect- eating mammals the hedgehogs are re- 



Hedgehogs. ° b & to 



presented by several species in south-western Asia, the European 

 form inhabiting Asia Minor and Syria, while the large-eared hedgehog (Erinaceus 

 < I a ritus) ranges from the Caspian district into Mesopotamia. In Persia, Baluchistan, 

 and near Kandahar and Quetta dwells the long-spined hedgehog (E. macracan- 

 thus), distinguished by the long spines on its head, some of which are as much as 



