184 



THE BEASTS OF PREY. 



found its prey. The animals prowl around during 

 the entire night, even entering villages and cities, 

 paying no attention to the Dogs, and retiring only 

 towards morning. 

 How Hycenas Hyaenas are guided in their wanderings 

 Prowl by their scent as well as by their sight 

 and Hunt. anc j hearing. The ugly fellows are as 

 much attracted by any dead beasts, or the body of a 

 dead human being, as by a flock of Sheep or Goats, 

 or by a herd of Cattle, and they will prowl around a 

 fence which is too high for them to climb. As soon as 

 they have scented prey, they cease their howling and 

 silently trot nearer and nearer to their victim, stop- 

 ping every now and then to look, listen or sniff, and 

 ever ready to flee if danger threatens. The spotted 

 species are a little more courageous than the striped 

 Hyaena, but still may be termed exceedingly cow- 



brown HY.ENAS. Frequenting the seashore on the southwest coast of Africa, the Brown Hyajna 



or Strand-Wolf looks for carrion washed ashore by the tide. The fur is long and thick, and a long mane ex- 

 tends along the back, hanging down on both sides, this mane being in part whitish gray and the remainder 

 brownish black. The legs have black stripes on the general brown color, and the long ears are erect. 

 (Hy<ena brunnea.) 



ardly, when their size is considered. If they do not 

 find any carrion they confine themselves to attacking 

 defenseless prey, and therefore do damage only to 

 the weaker domestic animals, in whose ranks they 

 may make considerable havoc. Hyaenas destroyed 

 two strong Asses belonging to the traveler and hunter, 

 Selous, the marauders eating every part but the 

 skulls, and on another occasion they devoured part 

 of a Lioness he had killed in the evening. Probably 

 they attack healthy living animals only when they 

 cannot find sick, exhausted or dead ones. 



In some rare instances they become veritable 

 Beasts of Prey, pursue Antelopes in the night, drag 

 them down as Wolves do their victims, and kill and 

 devour them. Such hunts, however, must be re- 

 garded as exceptions, as they are certainly best 



pleased when they find carrion. Around a carcass 

 that lies in the Hyaenas' range there always assem- 

 bles a gathering that can hardly be described. They 

 are the Vultures among quadrupeds, and their vorac- 

 ity is really extraordinary. When they find carrion 

 they forget all considerations of prudence, and even 

 the cowardice which they usually display. It is told 

 that feasting Hyaenas engage in violent fights, and 

 there is such a croaking, shrieking and laughing at 

 such times that a superstitious person might really 

 think all the inhabitants of the infernal regions had 

 been let loose. They are useful in removing dead 

 animals, but the loss they entail by attacking flocks 

 is far greater, since the carcasses would, without 

 their assistance, be taken away by far better scaven- 

 gers among the birds and insects. They follow car- 

 avans through the plains and deserts in greater or 

 smaller numbers, as if they 

 knew that out of such bands' 

 something would surely fall to 

 their share. 

 How Hycenas Varying opinions 

 Act have prevailed as 



Toward Man. to whether or not 

 they attack human beings. The 

 Striped Hyaena has not been 

 convicted of doing this, but 

 there have been so many re- 

 ports to this effect about the 

 spotted species that its danger 

 to human beings is not to be 

 disputed. It sometimes steals 

 children, but usually does not 

 dare to attack adult people ex- 

 cept when sick, overcome by 

 fatigue, or asleep; but in ex- 

 ceptional instances it also at- 

 tacks armed Men. In some 

 African regions it is therefore 

 looked upon' as a scourge to 

 be dreaded, especially where it 

 is plentiful. It is pursued in a 

 rather persistent manner by 

 European settlers as well as by 

 many native tribes. It is shot, 

 caught in nooses, traps and pits, 

 and poisoned with strychnine. 

 If taken very young, Hyaenas 

 are easily tamed and frequently 

 become very affectionate. They 

 bear captivity well, but often 

 become blind in old age. 

 Divisions of In former ages 

 the Hycena Hyaenas were dis- 

 Family. tributed over a 

 much greater part of the globe, and were rather nu- 

 merous in Germany, as is shown by the many remains 

 of bones. In the present day there are four species 

 belonging to this family, three Hyaenas proper and 

 the Aard-Wolf, which may be considered a connect- 

 ing link between the Hyaenas and the Civets. 



THE HYENAS PROPER. 



The Spotted Hyaena {Hyczna crocutd) is distin- 

 guished by its greater strength and spotted skin 

 from the striped and brown species which are much 

 oftener seen in Europe. The ground-color is whit- 

 ish gray, with a surface tinge of yellow ; the sides 

 and thighs show brown spots. The head is brown, 

 with a reddish hue on the cheeks and top ; the tail 

 is ringed with brown and its extremity is black; the 



