THE VILLOSB in BNA. 



137 



from tlie scene of its depredations to elude pursuit, and concealing itself during the day-time in the 

 mountains, or in the thick bush which extends in largo patches throughout the sandy district, in which 

 it is usually found. 



The Villose Hyaena stands about two feet four inches in height at the shoulder, and measures four 

 feet four inches from the nose to the root of the tail. The hair of the body is long and coarse. Its 

 general colour is dusky 

 gray, variegated with in- 

 definite clouds or oblique 

 bands of black, the latter 

 prevailing on the limbs- 



THE PROTELES.* 



THIS is the aard-wolf, o* 

 earth-wolf of the Dutch 

 colonists of the Cape. 

 It is a native of South 

 Africa. In general cus- 

 tom and manners it much 

 resembles the former 

 animals, but is of in- 

 ferior size. The hindei 

 quarters are low and 

 trailing ; the shoulders 

 thick and muscular ; 

 while a full, coarse mane 

 runs along the spine. 



In dentition it is very remai-kaole, as the molars are j-j, much separated from each other. Of those 

 above the first three are false, and the fourth is small and tuberculous, with three points. The three 

 molars below have each the character of false molars. The incisors and canines are as usual. 



The form of the head more resembles that of the civets t than the hysenas, being somewhat elon- 

 gated, and having the muzzle conical and pointed. There are no decided scent pouches as in the civet, 



but a fuiTow in their stead. The ears are 



^ long, erect, acute, and thinly covered with 



hair ; the whiskers are strong ; the tail is 

 short and bushy, with coarse hair. Woolly 

 fur, intermixed with long, coarse hairs, covers 

 the body. On the fore feet there are five toes, 

 but the thumb is short, rudimentary and high 

 on the carpus, as in the dog ; the hinder feet 

 have four toes. The claws are strong, large, 

 blunt, and well adapted for scratching. The 

 young are much darker, both in general colour 

 and their markings, than adults. The male 

 is somewhat larger than the female. 



The Proteles is nocturnal in its habits, 

 and constructs a deep burrow, at the bottom 

 This subterranean chamber, to which there are three or 



four different entrances, is usually occupied by several individuals, so that the animal appears to be 

 partially gregarious. Notwithstanding the trailing contour of its hind quarters, it runs with consider- 



THE PROTELES. 



TEETH OF ADULT PBOTEI-ES 



of which it lies concealed during the day-time. 



I O O 



Proteles cristata. 1'. Lalan.lii, Isidore, Geoffrey. Viverra Hyccnoidej, Ujamarest. Civ 



f Vol. i. p. 363. 



ette Hyeno'iile, F. Cuvier. 



