THE HYENA. 91 



of their dogs, rush out and with sticks beat their intruders to 

 death. But it ought to be observed that the hyena does not 

 indulge in this kind of diet, save when he has fasted for a long 

 time, and has not much chance in any other way. 



I take this opportunity to correct a mistake I have often 

 heard concerning the voice of this animal. 



Often in the villages and camps, and oftener still in bivouac 

 during the night, one hears the croaking cry resembling the 

 voice of a large dog who had contracted a severe cold, and 

 then it is said, " Hark ! do you hear the hyena V* 



This cry is peculiar to the jackal, who gives utterance to it 

 only when he is alone, and on certain occasions, as we will see 

 in a subsequent chapter. 



As to the hyena, he is too timid to howl, but he growls like 

 a dog over his food, or in the rutting season, when several 

 males are paying their addresses to one female. 



Although many dogs will follow the trail of a hyena with 

 the same zest that they do that of the jackal, that they hunt 

 to the death ; yet still I would place this animal in that class 

 that should be killed and not hunted. 



The Arabs say, " Vile as a hyena," and the Arabs' simile is 

 a good one. 



