178 



THE SPOTTED HYENA. 



to accompany tlie chief voluntary nerves, and therefore to become more conspicuous upon the 

 line of the all-important nervous column that runs along the back, and of the great branch 

 nerves which supply power and energy to the limbs. It will be borne in mind that the com- 

 plicated ganglionic system of nerves that intertwines itself among the vital organs, and is 

 woven into such manifold reticulations on the "epigastrium," is of a different character from 

 the round cord -like nerves of motion, and is found mostly in those parts of the body where the 

 fur is palest. 



The Tiger Wolf is celebrated for the strange unearthly sounds which it utters when under 

 the influence of strong excitement. The animal is often called the ' ' Laughing Hyena ' ' on 

 account of the maniacal, mirthless, hysterical laugh which it pours forth, accompanying these 



SPOTTED HYENA, OK TIGER WOLF.— Crocuta metadata. 



horrid sounds with the most absurd gestures of body and limbs. During the time that the 

 creature is engaged in uttering these wild fearful peals of laughter it dances about in a state 

 of ludicrously frantic excitement, running backwards and forwards, rising on its hind legs, 

 and rapidly gyrating on those members, nodding its head repeatedly to the ground ; and, in 

 fine, performing the most singular antics with wonderful rapidity. 



The ancients, who had the vaguest possible ideas of the Hyena, and considered it to be as 

 fearful a foe to humanity as the lion, thought that the animal was accustomed to decoy stray 

 travellers to its den by imitating the laughter of human revellers, and then to kill and devour 

 those who had been deceived by the simulated revelry. Besides the ordinary teeth and claws 

 with which a Hyena was furnished, these ancient author's supplied the Hyena with two addi- 

 tional rows of teeth in each jaw, and a supply of sharp darts at the extremity of the tail. The 

 triple row of teeth was evidently borrowed from the shark, which is indeed a kind of marine 

 Hyena, and the caudal darts were clearly adopted from the skin of the porcupine. 



The Hyena is too vexatious a neighbor not to be persecuted, and frequently falls a victim 

 to the treacherous spring-gun, in spite of the benefits which he confers on mankind by his 

 unfailing energy in devouring every scrap of eatable food. 



