THE TIGER WOLF, OR SPOTTED HYENA. 



223 



the line of the all-important nervous column that runs along the back, and of the great 

 branch nerves which supply power and energy to the limbs. It will be borne in mind 

 that the complicated ganglionic system of nerves that intertwines itself among the vital 

 organs, and is woven into such manifold reticulations on the " epigastrium," is of a 

 different character from the round cord-like nerves of motion, and is found mostly in 

 those parts of the body where the fur is palest. 



The Tiger Wolf is celebrated for the strange unearthly sounds which it utters when 

 under the influence of strong excitement. The animal is often called the " Laughing 

 Hyena " on account of the maniacal, mirthless, hysterical laugh which it pours forth, 

 accompanying these horrid sounds with the most absurd gestures of body and limbs. 

 During the time that the creature is engaged in uttering these wild fearful peals of 



TIGER WOLF, OR SPOTTED HYENA. Crocuta maculvta. 



laughter it dances about in a state of ludicrously frantic excitement, running backwards 

 and forwards, rising on its hind legs, and rapidly gyrating on those members, nodding 

 its head repeatedly to the ground ; and, in fine, performing the most singular antics 

 with wonderful rapidity. 



The ancients, who had the vaguest possible ideas of the Hyena, and considered it 

 to be as fearful a foe to humanity as the lion, thought that the animal was accustomed 

 to decoy stray travellers to its den by imitating the laughter of human revellers, and 

 then to kill and devour those who had been deceived by the simulated revelry. Besides 

 the ordinary teeth and claws with which a Hyena was furnished, these ancient authors 

 supplied the Hyena with two additional rows of teeth in each jaw, and a supply of 

 sharp darts at the extremity of the tail. The triple row of teeth was evidently borrowed 

 from the shark, which is indeed a kind of marine Hyena, and the caudal darts were 

 clearly adopted from the skin of the porcupine. 



