LOVERS OF THE CHASE AND OTHERS 77 



the Spotted species may also be mentioned, and our artist has 

 accorded attention to this animal in one of his coloured plates. 

 Some of these beasts were once resident in Europe, but to-day 

 sees them restricted to Africa, Asia Minor, Persia and India. The 

 Spotted and Brown Hyasnas are, however, inhabitants of Africa, and 

 it is only the Striped species which is found outside the African 

 continent. 



The Spotted Hyaena differs from its Striped relative by hunting 

 in packs, but as a rule prefers to pick up food already killed. It is 

 a more powerful beast, larger, fiercer and very voracious. Truly 

 an animal scavenger, the Hyaena occupies a curious place in Nature, 

 for it is a cowardly creature and will only show fight when it is 

 driven to bay. It has been aptly termed "the veriest pariah of the 

 animal world," but it is as well to remember, in view of the hatred 

 most people evince for it, that it is a veritable scavenger, that it 

 forms a sort of connecting-link between the Cats and Dogs (having 

 a Cat-like skull and Dog-like claws), and that its massive jaws, 

 powerful muscles and strong teeth can pulverize the thigh-bone of a 

 Buffalo and can crush bones that no other living animal would 

 attempt. It will be observed that the Hyasna is very strongly 

 developed in the front part of the body, and that the general form 

 falls away towards the hind-quarters. This doubtless accounts for 

 the skulking, or slinking, gait. 



COMMON BADGER. That this animal is more common in 

 England than is usually supposed seems generally agreed, but, 

 being a nocturnal creature, it is rarely seen except by gamekeepers 

 and others occupied in the open air. 



Beyond this z it spends most of its time, when not engaged 

 foraging for food, below the ground in its remarkable fortress. It 

 is quite a wonderful citadel, this subterranean home of Brock, as 

 he is sometimes called, and I vividly remember seeing an "earth" 

 which was opened in Hertfordshire which was of tremendous dimen- 

 sions, there being a succession of ingenious chambers disclosed as 

 excavations proceeded. 



It is a shy, timid animal and has a distinct hatred of being 

 watched. The only real way to get a good sight of it, once having 

 found out the favourite home and haunts, is to sit up in a tree for 

 some hours at night. Even then the vigil may be a long and 

 unprofitable one, as Brock soon passes by, and the light is insufficient 

 to obtain more than a passing glimpse of the old warrior. 



