62 CARNIVORA. 



AARD WOLF. 



Proteles cristatus. 



This rather small Wolf, the Earth Wolf of the Dutch, 

 is sometimes called Hysena by furriers ; it inhabits South 

 Africa, and is about 3 feet in length. The fur is thick 

 and rather long, mixed with longer coarse hairs ; the 

 colour is light brown, with black stripes across the body ; 

 it has a slight mane of very long bristly hair ; the tail 

 is furnished with long bristly coarse black hairs. The 

 fur is well adapted for making wrappers ; but its skin is 

 rarely met with, and worth about Is. 6d. to 3s. 



The Aard Wolf is said to feed on ants and carrion. 



SPOTTED HY^NA. 



Hycena crocuta. 



French : Hyene. German : Hyane. 



The Spotted Hyaena inhabits South Africa, and is 

 larger than the foregoing species, being 4 feet in length. 

 The fur is thin, and chiefly composed of hair of a light 

 brown colour, marked with dark spots ; there is a longer 

 ridge of hair between the shoulders. The head is 

 round, and the eyes dark and prominent. The tail is 

 thin and bristly. The power of the jaw of the Hysena 

 is immense ; it breaks large bones with the greatest ease. 

 Its cry is peculiar and unearthly. Its gait is also re- 

 markable, and might be described as a quick shufifle. 



