THE CAPE HYENA. aa; 



The spoor of the Hyena is somewhat similar to, but larger than that of the dog ; the 

 nails, not being retractile, usually leave an impression upon soft ground, which is not 

 the case with the leopard. The inside toe of each foot is smaller than the outside, and 

 the footmarks can be easily recognized and distinguished from those of dogs. 



During one warm afternoon, whilst riding over the grassy slopes on the banks of the 

 Umganie River, near Pietermaritzberg, and attended by a cunning old pointer, I saw the 

 dog stand on the brink of an old watercourse, and bark fiercely at some object which 

 appeared to be stationed below. I knew that the bark and the expression which accom- 

 panied it was the dog-language for * there's something here,' so I dismounted, and walked 

 towards the dyke. As I approached, the dog, with an aspect of alarm, sprang back, and 

 then rushed forward again. From having had several unpleasant rencontres with 

 poisonous snakes I had become very cautious, and advanced so slowly that I was only 

 enabled to catch a glimpse of a Hyena, Which, upon seeing me, immediately retreated 

 into an opening. 



I descended the steep bank and found a large hole, which appeared to be the 

 entrance to a subterraneous passage, by which the water obtained an exit. I collected a 

 few sticks and some long grass, which I placed over the entrance, and then endeavored 

 to trace the course of this passage, to see if there were another opening. 



About fifty yards from the first I found a second hole, which evidently led to the 

 first ; neither of these were large enough to admit me, and the dog could not have done 

 much good even had he entered ; but he appeared to have a great objection to approach 

 too near to the den. 



After some consideration I determined to cut a quantity of the dry grass, to fill one 

 opening with it, set it on fire, and then to watch near the other hole. This plan failed 

 to unearth the creature, so I reversed the arrangement, but with no better success. 



At length I fired several bullets into the opening, trusting that a stray shot might 

 strike near the Hyena, and that it would drive him into open ground. The sinuosities 

 of the passage prevented the possibility pf a fair shot. 



Whilst thus engaged, the dog suddenly barked and dashed off. Upon reaching the 

 top of the bank, I saw the Hyena scrambling over the hills, closely followed by my dog. 

 I mounted my pony, but the pace was too good for him. I however held the Hyena 

 in view for a considerable time as it passed over the successive ridges, but the pointer 

 soon gave up his pursuit. 



I think that when the ordinary game is driven away by sporting men, or killed by 

 sportsmen, Hyena-hunting with a pack of hounds would be found very good sport, and 

 perhaps we should have Hyena-hunters sneering at fox-hunters as much as some fox- 

 hunters now do at ' thistle-whippers.' 



The Hyena is frequently caught in a trap of simple construction. Stakes are driven 

 into the ground so as to form an inclosure, and a hanging door of stone, sustained by 

 a cord, closes the aperture when it falls. A bait is placed at the farther end of the 

 trap, and the whole contrivance is like a large mouse-trap. When caught, the Hyena 

 is despatched with spears and clubs, or is shot. 



The traveller is frequently disturbed during the night by the daring Hyenas, who 

 will sneak about his wagons in search of leather straps, trektows, and other savory 

 provender ; and if a pair of shoes or some leather breeches happened to be left in an 

 exposed situation during the dark hours, they may be considered lost without re- 

 demption, for such a supper would be an unlooked-for luxury by the gaunt brute." 



One of these animals was discovered in a state of sad laceration. The two fore-paws 

 were gone, and the legs themselves had been frightfully torn, evidently by some powerful 

 beast of prey. The natives said that the Hyena had been thus punished by the lion for 

 interfering with his arrangements, and stated, moreover, that the lion frequently cor- 

 rected the forward conduct of the Hyena by biting off every one of its paws. 

 This statement, curious as it may seem, was corroborated by several experienced 

 hunters. 



Although in former days the Hyena was supposed to be a wholly untameable 

 animal, later experiments have shown that it is nearly as tractable and affectionate as a 



