LEOPAED AND HYJENA. 61 



Generally found in the plains in pairs. The reit-buck 

 (Eleotragus reduncus] : three feet high, nearly five feet in 

 length; horns one foot long, and annulated near the base; 

 ears six inches long ; colour ashy grey, white beneath : 

 female smaller, but hornless, otherwise similar. Resides 

 variously in reeds, grass, and near bushes. Generally 

 found in pairs. He frequently lies down in a small patch 

 of grass, and, from his colour, is overlooked by the 

 sportsmen. 



The leopard (Felis leopardus) : male two feet six inches 

 high at the shoulder, and seven feet in extreme length; 

 armed with long teeth and retractile claws ; colour tawny 

 and reddish-brown ; the chin, breast, belly, and inside of 

 extremities white, irregularly marked with spots of black, 

 which vary in size and colour at different ages and states 

 of condition ; tail nearly four feet long : female similar, 

 but smaller. Found in thick coverts, either bush or 

 reeds. Destructive to poultry, cattle, and game ; generally 

 seizes its victim by the back of the neck. 



The spotted hysena (Crocuta maculata) : height about 

 two feet six inches, sloping towards the rump ; length 

 about five feet ten inches ; colour brown, with blotches of 

 circular black spots ; white under ; head short and broad ; 

 feet like a dog's ; common in bush and plain : female 

 similar. Destructive to sheep, calves, and foals ; seizing 

 them by the flank, and holding on until the piece gives 

 way or the animal falls. This animal possesses a 

 wonderful strength of jaw, grinding the bones of the 

 largest animals to powder : it is very cowardly. The 

 Crocuta brunnea was also common, but did not very 



