APPENDIX. 493 



nnd hardest bones. It is usually fed with such as 

 are the refuse of other animals. These in the sto- 

 mach are perfectly digested. Whenever this HycE- 

 na is interrupted or disturbed whilst eating, or even 

 If any one is only looking on, it makes a singular 

 kind of laughing noise, whence most of the exhi- 

 bitors call it the Laughing Hyana. 



Of the strength in the muscles of tlie iavv^s and 

 neck of this Hya3na, the following is a very re- 

 markable instance. The den of the animal now in 

 the Tower wanted some repairs. These the carpen- 

 ter completed by nailing on the floor a thick oak 

 plank, of seven or eight feet in length, with ar 

 least a dozen nails, each longer than the m^iddlc 

 fmger of the hand. At one end of this plank there 

 was however a small piece left that stood up iiigher 

 than the rest, and the man not having a proper chis- 

 sel along with him to cut it off, he returned to his 

 shop for one. Dm'ing his absence some persons 

 came in to see the animals, and this Hvicna was let 

 down by the keeper from the other part of his den. 

 He had scarcely been in the place a moment before 

 he espied the piece that was left at the end of tiic 

 plank, and seizing hold of it in iu::> teeth, tore tlic 

 plank completely up, drawing every nail. 

 . Thisanimai is, notwithstanding, nmch more gentle 

 than most of the individuals of the other species. 

 The keeper can venture to pat and caress him, and 

 even to enter his cage at all times except when he his 

 feeding. In suffering these liberties he st ems, how- 

 ever, actuated by terror, raiher than by his natural 

 inclination;, for in all these acts the ir.a : hnds it ne- 



