HABITS OF TEE 



SI 



THE SPOTTED HYAENA.* 



This species exists over the whole of Africa south of the Sahara, a portion of the continent which 

 differs in a remarkable manner in its animal productions from the northern part ; so much so that in 

 a division cf the world into regions for the purposes of studying the geographical distribution of 

 animals, the north of Africa is united with Europe, while its ultra -Saharal portion is formed into a 

 distinct region. Over this Ethiopian region, then, the Spotted Hyaena ranges, extending from 

 Abyssinia and the Soudan in the north, where it meets with its striped brother, to Cape Colony, 

 where it exists along with the curious Aard-Wolf. It is known as the " Wolf," or " Tiger- Wolf," 

 by the Cape colonists, who, it seems, have a fancy for giving animals wrong names. We have seen 

 already that the Leopard is with them a " Tiger." 



The skin is of a yellowish-brown ground tint, irregularly blotched with circular black spots. 

 On the back of the neck and on the withers it has a quantity of long stiff hairs, forming a kind of 

 reversed mane. The fur is coarse and bristly, its character adding greatly to the animal's singularly 

 unattractive appearance. The height 

 at the shoulder is about two feet six or 

 eight inches, the extreme length five 

 feet ten inches, of which length the tail 

 takes up some sixteen inches. 



Like some other beasts of a 

 similarly mean nature, the Spotted 

 Hyaena prefers not to do his own 

 killing, but likes better to live as a 

 sort of humble messmate on those 

 better provided than himself with the 

 courage requisite to good hunters. 

 V/hen he does cater for himself, instead 

 of subsisting on the leavings of his 

 betters, he always makes his attack in 

 a cowardly way, and trusts rather to 

 stratagem than to any of the higher 

 qualities of a sportsman. Dr. Living- 

 stone says : " In the evening of our 

 second day at Serotli, a Hyaena appear- 

 ing suddenly among the grass, suc- 

 ceeded in raising a panic among our 

 cattle. This false mode of attack is 



the plan which this cowardly animal always adopts. His courage resembles closely that of a Turkey- 

 cock. He will bite if an animal is running away ; but if the animal stand still, so does he." 



Other authors tell a similar tale, showing, too, that under cover of darkness the Hyaena 

 can be moderately plucky ; can, at any rate, muster sufficient courage to attack the herds in an 

 encampment. " More than once, during dark and drizzling nights, they made their way into the 

 sheep-kraal, where they committed sad havoc. We had several chases after them, but they managed 

 invariably to elude us."f Again, "The Sheep having been placed in a pit to prevent them from 

 straying, were visited during the night by a party of Hyaenas, which slaughtered some and drove the 

 residue to the summit of a high hill, where they were found the following morning." J 



The Hyaena has his misfortunes, like other beasts ; Sheep are not to be had every day, often food 

 is scarce, and he has to go with an empty stomach for days together. He may suffer, too, in other 

 ways, besides hunger. Thus Mr. Andersson relates : " Almost the first animal I saw at this place 

 was a gigantic ' Tiger -Wolf/ or Spotted Hyaena, which, to my surprise, instead of seeking safety in 

 flight, remained stationary, grinning in the most ghastly manner. Having approached within twenty 



TEETH OF SPOTTED HY.ENA. 



60 



* Hycena crocuta. 



t Andersson. 



Harris. 



