52 HYENAS. 



of hounds, lost a dog; every night for several 

 nights successively ; the dog-keepers reported 

 that they were carried off by hyenas, the truth 

 of which could not be ascertained, but it ap- 

 pears likely. The dogs were accustomed to 

 be tied down separately every night; and af- 

 ter it was ordered that they should be all loos- 

 ened, none disappeared. 



The natives of India affirm that tigers, pan- 

 thers, and leopards have a great aversion to 

 hyenas, on account of their destroying their 

 young, which I believe they have an opportu- 

 nity of doing, as the parents leave them during 

 the greatest part of the day. The inhabitants 

 therefore feel no apprehension in taking away 

 the young whenever they find them, knowing 

 the dam is seldom near. Whether it is true as 

 the natives say, that they have a great aversion 

 to hyenas, or that it is one of their many fabu- 

 lous stories, I shall leave to the judgement of 

 my reader, having never had an opportunity 

 of ascertaining it. Hyenas are slow in their 

 pace, and altogether inactive ; I have often 



