52 



SOUTH AFEICAN MAMMALS 



Hyaena crocuta. Spotted Hyaena. Gevlekte Wolf. 



The Tiger Wolf, or " Wolf " as the colonials usually 

 call this animal, is of a yellowish-grey colour, the body 

 being covered with round dark brown or black spots or 

 blotches. Tail tipped with long black hair. Length 

 about 4 feet 6 inches. Tail 14 inches. This species 

 seems to be distributed over the whole of South Africa, 

 and was at one time common in Cape Colony. The 

 Zoological Gardens had one of these animals for five 

 years, which had been obtained by Major Hamilton at 

 Sabi. This individual often emitted the unearthly 

 howling laugh characteristic of the species, more 

 especially towards sunset. It was destroyed after a 

 long course of fits, in which it got knocked about rather 

 badly. A second example, presented by Mr. Thys Uys, 

 of Groenvlei, Piet Eetief, was exceedingly tame, would 

 come when called by name and allow himself to be patted 

 and stroked. This animal indulged in wonderful gambols 

 at sunset, racing round his cage, spinning round like a 

 top, and jumping about in the exuberance of good health 

 and spirits. 



Trouessart, in his " Catalogus Mammalium," enumerates 

 three species of Hyaena in South Africa, the third being 

 Hyaena capensis. 



Family VIVEEEID^. 



This is a somewhat variable family of small carnivorous 

 animals confined to the Old World. Some of the mem- 

 bers of the group are plantigrade, while others are digiti- 

 grade. The body and head are both elongate in shape, 

 and the limbs fairly short, as compared with the Felidtp- 

 The second pair of lower incisor teeth usually project 

 above the level of the first and third pairs, while the 



