48 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



General aspect Characteristics. 



THE IIYJEXA. 



THE hyaena is about the size of a large dog, 

 of a pale greyish brown, and marked across with 

 several blackish bands. The head is broad and 

 flat, and the eyes have an expression of great fe- 

 rocity. The hair of the neck is erect, and conti- 

 nued in a bristly marie along the back. The tail 

 is short, and very bushy. 



The general aspect betrays a gloominess and 

 malignity of disposition, and the manners of the 

 finimal perfectly accord with its appearance. 

 The neck is so extremely still', that in looking 

 Behind, the creature is obliged to move his whole 

 body, somewhat in the manner of a hog. 



HvaMias generally inhabit caverns and rocky 

 places; whence they issue in troops at night to 

 feed on the remains of dead animals, or on what- 

 ever living prey they can seize. They frequently 

 commit irr< at devastation among the flocks and 

 herds, and not unfrequently violate the reposito- 

 ries of the dead, feeding greedily on the putres- 

 cent bodies; yet, when other provisions fail, they 

 will eat the roots of plants, and the tender shoots- 

 of the palms. 



Their courage is said to equal their rapacity; 

 ;'.N an individual of the species will occasionally 

 defend himself with great obstinacy against much 

 larger animals; and Kaempfer relates, that he 

 lia> often known one of them to attack the ounce 

 and the panther. 



