118 ht-enixj:. 



very large, their upper flesh tooth has a small tubercle within and in front ; 

 but the lower one has none, presenting two stout cutting points ; behind 

 it is one tubercular molar in the upper jaw, none iu the lower jaw. The 

 hind legs are much bent, so that the hind quarters are always lower than 

 the shoulders. The feet have usually four strong claws, which are not 

 retractUe. The tongue is rough with recurved spines. They mostly occur 

 in Africa, one only extending to Asia. Blyth considers that they are 

 physiologically most nearly related to the civets, as shown by their rough 

 tongue, the form of their coecum, the structure of their reproductive organs, 

 their anal pouch and style of coloring. 



Gen. Hy^na. 



Char. — Incisors z; — ;; ; canines , — - ; premolars - — ^ ; molars - — ■ ; 

 fa — fa X — 1 o — o 1 — 1 



feet all with four toes. Other characters those of the sub-family. 



Hysenas have a short solid skull, short muzzle, the cervical vertebrse 

 often anchylosed ; 15 to 16 pairs of ribs, tibia and fibula very short; claws 

 stout and blunt. Beneath the tail is a deep pouch analogous to that in 

 the civets, but not secreting an odorous substance. Their temporal 

 muscles are very large and powerful, as are those of the neck, and their 

 jaws and teeth are strong enough to enable them to crush large bones. 

 They are quite nocturnal in their habits, living in holes and caverns, and 

 feeding chiefly on the remains of carcases, but they not unfrequently carry 

 off dogs. They are easily tamed, are even susceptible of attachment ; and 

 it is stated that tame individuals are occasionally used as watch-dogs. 



There is only one species in India which is spread over great part of Asia 

 and Africa. 



118. Hysena striata. 



ZiMMEEMAN. — H. vulgans, Desmaeest. — Elliot, Cat. 24. — Blyth, 

 Cat. 138. — Taras, H. (in the South) and Mahr. — Hundar, in some parts. — 

 Jhirak H., in Hurriana. — Lakkar-baghar, H., in the North of India ; also 

 Lohra bag, or Lakar bdgh; also Lahra bdgh. — Nauhra bdgh, Ben. — 

 Earvdgh, in some parts. — Bhd in Central India. — Kirba and Kathirba, 

 Can. — Korna gandu, Tel. 



The Striped HTiENA. 



Descr. — Of a pale yellowish gray color, with transverse tawny stripes ; 

 neck and back maned. 



