74 THE TOWER MENAGERIE. 
inside. The hair of the body is long, particularly on 
the back of the neck and on the spine, where it forms a 
full and thick mane, which may be said to be continued 
even upon the tail, the latter organ being furnished with 
strong tufted hairs of considerable length. The mane 
and the tail are both marked with blackish spots or 
stripes variously and irregularly placed. Much variety 
is indeed to be met with as well in the ground colour of 
the whole body as in the disposition of the markings, 
which are extremely different in different individuals. 
The habits of the Hyzenas are entirely nocturnal: while 
in the daytime their cowardice is so excessive that they 
fly from the face of man, and suffer themselves, when 
taken, to be ill treated with impunity and even without 
attempting to avenge themselves, they prowl abroad in 
the stillness of the night with all the temerity of brutal 
daring. They will frequently make prey of the lesser 
animals, and will occasionally venture to attack dogs 
and even horses; but it is seldom that they muster up 
sufficient courage to contend with living man, unless 
stimulated by strong provocation, or impelled by the 
most violent cravings of hunger. Congregated in nume- 
rous bands they beset the encampment of the traveller, 
or infest the neighbourhood of villages or even of towns, 
which they enter with the fall of night and do not quit 
until the dawn of day; disturbing the inhabitants with 
their peculiar moaning or wailing, which is in some 
measure intermediate between a grunt and a howl. 
Parading the streets and penetrating into the houses in 
search of prey, they eagerly devour the offal of animals, 
the refuse of the daily meal, or whatever else that is in 
any way eatable may happen to fall in their way. 
