THE STRIPED HYENA. 175 



by its teeth grinding upon the sword -blade, and endeavoring to drag the weapon from his 

 hand. In a few moments his eyes became accustomed to the obscurity, and he could perceive 

 the Hyena still holding on to the point of the sword. A sudden effort sufficed to free the 

 weapon, and with a quick thrust, the blade was buried to the hilt in the creature's breast, 

 laying the Hyena dead on the floor of the cave. 



Just as M. Gerard had withdrawn the dripping sword, and was about to drag the slain 

 animal from the cave, his attendant arrived, accompanied by some negroes whom he had 

 pressed into the service. 



The hunter thought that he had deserved some credit for his hand-to-hand combat with so 

 powerful an animal, and was unpleasantly disappointed when the Arab recommended him to 

 return thanks that lie had not used his gun, and advised Mm to discard the ensanguined sabre, 

 as it would betray him. Indeed he found that he had committed a woeful blunder, and that 

 it behoved him to achieve some specially daring deed in order to stop the slanderous tongues 

 of the Arab tribes. 



He afterwards found that the Arabs scorned to use a weapon against the Hyena, which 

 they killed in a most unique manner. 



Taking a handful of wet mud, or similar substance, and presenting themselves at the 

 mouth of the Hyena's den, they extend their hand to the animal, and say mockingly, " See, 

 how pretty I will make you with this henna!" They then dash the wet compost into the 

 creature's eyes, drag him out by a paw, and gag him before he recovers from the sudden 

 bewilderment. The poor beast is now handed over to the women and children, who stone 

 it to death. 



These Hyenas are very fond of dog-flesh, and employ a very ingenious mode of catching 

 their favorite prey. The female Hyena creeps quietly, and ensconces herself behind some bush 

 or other concealment not far from a village or a temporary encampment. Her mate then plays 

 his part by running boldly forwards, and making himself as conspicuous as possible, so as to 

 draw the attention of some of the multitudinous dogs which prowl about human habitations. 

 Out rush the dogs at the sight of the intruder, and the Hyena runs off as fast as he can, taking 

 care to pass near the spot where his mate is lying concealed. The result may be imagined. 



It is not often the case that the Hyena will commit itself to so bold an action, for it is 

 never known to be venturesome unless compelled by dire hunger. 



The Striped Hyena is easily to be distinguished from its relations by the peculiar 

 streaks from which it derives its name. The general color of the fur is a grayish-brown, 

 diversified with blackish stripes, which run along the ribs, and upon the limbs. A large 

 singular black patch extends over the front of the throat, and single black hairs are profusely 

 scattered among the fur. When young, the stripes are more apparent than in adult age, and 

 the little animal has something of a tigrine aspect about its face. The reason for this circum- 

 stance is twofold ; firstly, because the groundwork of the fur is lighter than in the adult 

 Hyena ; and secondly, because the stripes are proportionately much broader than in the full- 

 grown animal, and therefore occupy more space. 



Although the Hyena is so cowardly an animal, yet, like all cowards, it becomes very bold 

 when it finds that it can make its attack with impunity. Emboldened by numbers, and incited 

 by fierce hunger, the Hyenas become the very pests of the native African towns ; roaming with 

 impunity through the streets in search of the garbage that is plentifully flung from the houses, 

 and conducting themselves with the greatest impudence. At nightfall the inhabitants are fain 

 to close their doors firmly, for these dangerous brutes have been known to seize a sleeping 

 man, and to kill him with the terrible grip of their powerful jaws. 



In proportion to its size, the Hyena possesses teeth and jaws of extraordinary strength, 

 and between their tremendous fangs the thigh-bones of an ox fly in splinters with a savage 

 crash that makes the spectator shudder. The skull of this animal is formed in a manner that 

 at once points it out as belonging to a creature of enormous power. The ' ' zygomatic ' ' arches 

 of bone that extend from the eyes to the ears are of exceeding strength and thickness ; and 

 along the top of the head there runs a deep bony crest that projects beyond the brain cavity, 



