THE HYJENA. 51 



Instances of lameness. 



born and malignant; but instances have occurred 

 of the younger animals being tamed. Mr. Pen- 

 nant asserts, that he once saw a hyaena as tame 

 as a dog; and the Comte de Buffon mentions 

 one which was exhibited at Paris, and was appa- 

 rently divested of its natural ferocity. The 

 keeper of Exeter 'Change informed me, that a 

 hyaena now in his possession, was so very tame 

 when about six months old, that he was occasi- 

 onally suffered to come out of his den, and run 

 about the exhibition room. He seemed fond of 

 playing with any of the dogs that happened to 

 come into the room; and would even allow 

 strangers to approach and pat him with their 

 hands, exhibiting no symptoms of displeasure. 

 Still, however, there was a considerable degree of 

 sullenness and ill-nature in his disposition, which, 

 appeared to increase with his age, and it is now 

 necessary to keep him closely confined. This 

 animal was brought over in the Manship East- 

 Indiaman ; and is now about seven years old. 



Mr. John Hunter had at Earle's Court, one of 

 these animals, near eighteen months old, that 

 was so tame as to admit strangers to approach 

 and touch him. On Mr. Hunter's death he was 

 sold to a travelling exhibitor of animals. For a 

 few months previously to his being carried into 

 the country, he was' lodged in the Tower; where 

 he continued tolerably gentle; but on being con- 

 fined in the caravan he soon exhibited symptoms 

 of ferocity equal to those of the most savage hy- 



