410 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



Among the Striped Hyaenas are found considerable varie- 

 ties, in the shades of the fur and of the transversal bands. 

 In some the ground-work of the coat is clear fawn, with 

 spots of the same colour, but deeper. In others the ground 

 colour is a deep brown, varied with slight bands of gray 

 and black. Bruce thought he could distinguish the Hyaena 

 of Syria from that of Barbary : but additional observations 

 are necessary to ascertain the nature and importance of 

 those differences. 



Notwithstanding the facility with which the Hyaena is 

 tamed, there can be no doubt of its excessive ferocity in 

 its savage state. Its partiality to corrupted flesh leads it 

 to the habitations of Man, and the enemies which it finds 

 there to encounter must unquestionably contribute to main- 

 tain the fierceness of its character. In the East it is com- 

 monly observed by night to traverse the suburbs of towns, 

 and even penetrate into the interior, to feed on the remains 

 of animals which may be found there. It is by no means 

 uncommon to see Chacals, Hyaenas, Dogs, and Vultures 

 fasten on the same carcass, and agree together tolerably 

 well, until the portion becomes too small to satisfy the vo- 

 racity of each. 



As we have observed, the ancients were acquainted with 

 this animal. It is mentioned by Aristotle, Pliny, iElian, 

 and Oppian. The earlier modern naturalists did not recog- 

 nise the identity of the Hyaena with that described by the 

 ancients. Belon gives the name Hyaena to the Civet, and 

 calls the Hyaena itself by the strange appellation of Marine 

 Wolf. Busbec and Kcempfer were the first to recognise it. 

 " There is in the French Museum an Hyaena, whose coun- 

 try is unknown, on which I am in doubt," says the Baron, 

 " whether to call it a variety of the Striped Hyaena, or to 

 consider it a distinct species." 



The hairs, not only down the spine but on the whole of 

 its back and flanks, are long and rough, longer even than 



