242 THE SPOTTED HY^NA. 



in the ground, or in clefts of the rocks ; and in the 

 night time they frequently descend upon the sheep-, 

 folds, in which, if not well defended by Dogs, they 

 commit terrible ravages, killing (like most of their 

 genus) many more than they devour*. Some of the 

 inhabitants of tlie Cape pretend that the Hyasna has 

 the power of imitating the cries of other animals, 

 and that by these means it often succeeds in decoy- 

 ing Lambs, Calve^, &c. from the folds. It is also 

 said, that a party of Hyaenas half-flying and half- 

 defending themselves, will decoy the whole of the 

 Dogs from a farm to follow them to some distance ; 

 while their companions have an opportunity of com- 

 ing from their retreats, and carrying off sufficient 

 booty before the Dogs can return to prevent them f. 



Every kind of animal substance is a prize to 

 them ; and they will even rob the graves of their 

 dead, unless these are secured and well covered with 

 stones to prevent them ^. The gluttony and filthy 

 habits of these animals, seem a kind interference of 

 Providence^ urging them to consume those dead 

 and corrupting bodies which in very hot climates 

 might otherwise seriously affect the health and com- 

 fort of the people. 



The inhabitants of Guinea kill them by fixing 

 gims on the outside of the villages, with a piece of 

 carrion fastened to the trigger and placed near the 

 muzzle, in such a manner, that the moment this bait 

 is touched, the trigger is thereby pulled, and the 

 piece discharged ^. 



Kplbcn, ii. 108. f CJjurch. % Kolben^ ii. lOS, 



§ Barbot, v. 20t\— Bosnian, ii. 35, 



