THE HYJENA. • 230 



are they greatly alarmed at the sight of men, or the 

 report of fire-arms. Mr. Brown was told, that when- 

 ever any one of them was wounded, its companions 

 would always instantly tear it to pieces and de- 

 vour it *. 



It isj as has been before remarked, a generally 

 received opinion that the Hyaena cannot be tamed. 

 The specimen now in the Menagerie of the Natio- 

 nal Museum in Paris, which was bought in Eng- 

 land and is supposed to be the variety observed by 

 Bruce in Abyssinia, would seem to confirm this opi- 

 nion. It continues to bo excessively ferocious ; and 

 is even more enraged at the appearance of its keeper 

 than of any other person. This man, however, had 

 formerly the care of a Hyaena which was so gentle, 

 that he suffered it to run loose in his room ; and he 

 knew its disposition so well, that after it had been 

 devouring its food, he could venture even to ckan its 

 teeth. — The Hyaena now in the Menagerie, eats 

 "five or six pounds weight of raw meat in the day. 

 It is a singular fact, that, contrary to the nature of 

 the same animals in a savage state, this sleeps in the 

 night, and appears a^^ake and active during the 

 greater part of the day. It utters no cry except 

 when any one irritates it ; and its voice on these oc- 

 casions, is not much unlike that of many other wild 

 carnivorous animals f. 



A remarkable peculiarity in this animal is, that 

 when he is first dislodged from cover, or obliged 



* Brown. 

 "'■ La Mena'jjorie du Miiseuni National d'Histoii-e Na'airelle, liv.."?. 



