4 86 



CARNIVORES. 



is more common in Egypt, and also to the westward in the regions lying to the 

 north of the Sahara desert. Quite recently Dr. Emin Pasha, writing from Tabora, 

 in East Africa, stated that a striped hyaena, similar to and perhaps identical with 

 the Egyptian form, but smaller and lighter in colour, occurred in that part of 

 Africa. During and before the age of the mammoth, the striped hyaena wandered 

 over a considerable part of Europe, its remains having been discovered in a cave 

 in the South of France; while teeth have also been obtained in England. It 

 was, however, far less common in Europe than the spotted species. 



Both in India and Syria the striped hyaena frequents open hilly or sandy 

 districts ; although in the former country it is occasionally met with in forests, and, 

 according to Canon Tristram, in the latter it may be found both in the deserts and 

 in the woods. Like the other species it is nocturnal, although a stray individual 

 (as the one above referred to) may be occasionally seen in the daytime, more 

 especially in the early morning or late in the evening; but the striped hyaena 

 differs from the spotted species in being a comparatively solitary animal, it being- 

 rare to meet with more than two together. 



In Syria and Palestine the favourite haunts of the striped hyaena are the 

 rock-cut tombs so common in these countries ; but in India it is more commonly 

 found in holes and caves in rocks. Dr. Jerdon, writing of this species, says, that 

 " I have more than once turned one out of a sugar-cane field when looking for 

 jackals, and it very commonly lurks among ruins ; but in general its den is in a 

 hole dug by itself on the side of a hill or ravine, or a cave in a rock. The call of 

 the hyaena is a very disagreeable, unearthly cry, and dogs are often tempted out by 

 it when near, and fall a victim to the stealthy marauder. On one occasion a small 

 dog belonging to an officer was taken off* by a hyaena very early in the morning. 

 The den of this beast was known to be not far off in some sandstone cliffs, and 

 some sepoys of the detachment went after it, entered the cave, killed the hyaena, 

 and recovered the dog alive, with but little damage done to it. A hyaena, though 

 it does not appear to move very fast, gets over rough ground in a wonderful 

 manner, and it takes a good long run to overtake it on horseback, unless in most 

 favourable ground. A stray hyaena is now and then met with by a party of 

 sportsmen, followed and speared ; but sometimes not till after a run of three or 

 four miles, if the ground is broken by ravines. It is a cowardly animal, and shows 

 but little fight when brought to bay. The young are very tamable, and show 

 great signs of attachment to their owner, in spite of all that has been written about 

 the untamable ferocity of the hyaena." According to Mr. Blanford, the striped 

 hyaena is a more silent animal than its spotted cousin; and the cries of the 

 two species, though in some respects similar, are very different. 



The striped hyaena's food is mainly carrion or carcases killed by other animals ; 

 and in inhabited districts the animal is much dreaded on account of its grave- 

 robbing propensities. Portions of such carcases as it finds are eaten on the spot, 

 while other parts are dragged off to its den, the situation of which is generally 

 indicated by the fragments of bones around the entrance. These hyaenas will also 

 feast on skeletons that have been picked down to the bone by jackals and vultures ; 

 the bone-cracking power of the hyaena's jaws rendering such relics acceptable, 

 if not favourite, food. 



