2o6 Wild Life in Central Africa, 



often easy to see what a carnivorous animal has been 

 feeding on from the nature of its dung. There is a diffi- 

 culty in telling the sexes of hyaenas, as the organs are 

 similar. I once weighed a large male hyaena, and it scaled 

 i25lb., and I do not suppose they ever exceed i5olb. 



Considering their moderate weight, their strength is 

 marvellous, and twice I have known them remove a slab of 

 hippo hide which was a good load for two strong men to 

 carry on a pole, and which presumably \veighed quite 

 i6olb., and on both occasions they dragged the skin for 

 some distance and then gnawed it. It must have been a 

 tough and stodgy meal, although not so sharp or hard as 

 a load of chipped bones. The hyaena enters largely into 

 native superstitions, doubtless through their quiet, sneaking 

 habits and strange cries. 



WILD DOG (Lycason pictus], 



NATIVE NAMES. 

 Chinyanja - Mbulu. 



Chingoni - Mesengyanga, sometimes Mbulu. 



Approximate weight, $ 8olb. 



It is possible that there may be more than one variety of 

 the wild or hunting dog in Central Africa, as a certain 

 amount of difference can be noticed in their markings in 

 different districts. I have only shot about ten wild dogs, 

 but I have seen them on several occasions when after 

 game, without firing at them. 



Those I shot in Central Angoniland seemed to have 

 more white on their bodies than two I shot near the 

 Luangwa River in North-Eastern Rhodesia, and were also 

 slightly larger. 



Their colour is a mixture of blotched markings of black, 

 yellow, and white, and they are often mangy and dirty. 

 The bitches bring forth their young in deserted antbear 

 holes, and they must leave them behind when hunting, as I 

 never saw young animals running with a pack. They are 



