NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



So cunning and suspicious is the Spotted Hyaena, 

 that it is usually of little use to set spring guns and 

 traps to destroy it. Poisoning meat with strychnine 

 and leaving it in their haunts is the most effectual 

 way of killing them. When hyaenas are in the neigh- 

 bourhood of a stock breeder, he always poisons the 

 carcases of any of his stock which might die of 

 disease, and has the carcase deposited at some 

 considerable distance, where hyaenas and other 

 troublesome carnivorous animals, scenting it, come 

 and feast upon it. 



There is a widespread belief in South Africa and 

 elsewhere that the Spotted Hyaena is hermaphro- 

 dite. This, however, is not so. The belief has 

 arisen owing to the external appearance of the 

 reproductive organs of the two sexes being very 

 similar, and without dissection it is difficult for a 

 novice to distinguish the sexes. 



It is indeed fortunate for the natives of Africa 

 that this hyaena is of so cowardly a nature, for its 

 bodily strength is so great that it can carry off a 

 full-grown man's body, or that of an adult ass. 

 The tremendously powerful teeth and jaws are 

 greatly assisted by the large muscles of the neck 

 and shoulders. 



This animal when captured young can be rendered 

 as tame as any domestic dog, and makes an affec- 

 tionate pet, responding freely to caresses. It never 

 loses its nervousness, and any unusual noise or the 

 sight of a strange dog will cause it to bolt away and 



