THh WEASEL TEIBE. 79 



lies coneeuled Ihrougli the day, and roams abroad at night for its 

 prey. 



The Spotted Ht^na is a native of Southern Africa, and 

 abounds in the neighborhood of the Cape of Good Hope, where it 

 is called the Tiger Wolf It is somewhat inferior in size to the 

 Striped Hysena, but, in its wild state, has the same manners and 

 propensities. Its short muzzle is less abruptly truncated, and its 

 cars, short and broad in form, are of a nearly quadrilateral figure. 

 The general color of the hide is a dirty yellow, or yellowish brown, 

 and the whole body is covered with spots of a blackish brown, 

 excepting the under part of the belly a,nd of the breast, the inner 

 surface of the limbs and the head. The muzzle is black, and the 

 tail covered with long bushy hair of a blackish brown. Like the 

 Striped Hyaena, the spotted species has jaws of enormous strength, 

 with which it easily breaks to pieces the hardest bones. 



It is a common, but erroneous idea, that the Hysena is 

 wholly savage and untameable. Both species have been tamed, 

 and instances are recorded of individuals having manifested all 

 the attachment of a dog. The Striped Hyaena has recently been 

 domesticated in the Cape territory, and is considered one of the 

 best hunters after game, and as faithful and diligent as any of the 

 common domestic dogs. The truth is, that the Hyaena has a very 

 natural aversion to close confinement, and when exhibited, as he 

 generally is, in a narrow cage, he is miserable, and consequently 

 irritable. 



THE weasel tribe. 



The animals of this tribe are readily distinguished by their 

 long, slender bodies, short muzzle, sharp teeth, and predatory 

 habits. They inhabit almost every part of the world, and procure 

 their food by creeping on the unsuspecting victim, generally a 

 rabbit, rat, or bird, and then suddenly darting at it and piercing its 

 neck with their sharp teeth. Almost all the weasels devour the 

 brain and suck the blood of their prey, but seldom touch the flesh. 

 Of weasels there are twenty-nine species, including the various 



