78 ME. G. BTJSK ON THE EXISTING SPECIES OE HTiENA. 



of animals that have long lived in an unnatural condition — a ne- 

 cessity which, as observed by M. de Blainville, has heretofore 

 thrown great difficulties and, as we have reason to believe, con- 

 siderable confusion upon the subject of specific distinctions in the 

 Hyenas. 



But the same observations apply with equal force to every part 

 of the skeleton ; and, speaking in the name of palaeontology, it is 

 deeply to be regretted that there are at the present time no 

 means whatever of studying the osteology of either Jlycena cr acuta 

 or Hyaena hrunnea in the wild state ; and I am not even sure that 

 any skeleton of a really wild H. striata is to be found in either the 

 British Museum or the Hunterian Museum. Fortunately we have 

 now sufficient means of studying the cranial and dental characters 

 of the three living species; but palaeontologists want more than this, 

 and it is much to be hoped that no endeavours will be spared to 

 procure complete skeletons also of each species in the wild state. 



Explanation of Tables. 



In the first four following Tables I have collected the various, 

 cranial and dental measurements which have appeared most suited 

 to show the peculiarities, so far as dimensions are concerned, of 

 the difterent species and varieties of ffycena. At the bottom of 

 these Tables the numbers relating to each particular are reduced 

 to a mean ; and in Table Y. these means are placed in parallel 

 columns, so that the differences between the different forms in 

 each item will be seen at a glance. And in the same Table are 

 also given the maximum and minimum measures of each part as 

 observed by myself. Except perhaps in the case of IT. striata, 

 the number of instances upon which the mean dimensions are 

 founded are not sufficient to afford perfectly reliable data ; but - 

 they are sufficient for my immediate purpose, of showing, 1st, the 

 distinctive characters between S. striata and S. hrunnea, and, 2nd, 

 the extreme diversities observable more especially between the 

 wild and the caged specimens of H. crocuta. I have added a 

 few measurements of H. spelcsa, more to show how such results as 

 have been obtained may be applied in the comparison of the fossil 

 forms inter se and with the existing species than with any 

 intention of including that species in the present inquiry. But I 

 may remark that the comparison of the absolute and relative 

 sizes of the various teeth in both jaws of H. crocuta {fera) and 

 H. spelcea, though showing generally an advantage in favour of 



