MAMMALIA 



91 



about this animal's supposed habit of entering the crocodile's 

 mouth for the purpose of preying upon its vitals, and its imagined 

 knowledge of herbs acting as antidotes to the bite of a poisonous 

 serpent. A smaller species (fig. 58), the Mungoose i^Herpestes 

 griseus), is undoubtedly of great use to the inhabitants of India, on 

 account of its propensity for destroying snakes and rats. Here 

 again natives believe that the animal is acquainted with antidotes 



Fig. 58. — The Mungoose or Grey Ichneumon {^Herpestes griseus) 



to snake -bites. One species of Mangousti {Herpestes Wid- 

 dringtoni) is found in the south of Spain. 



3. The family of Hycsnas (Hysenidae) includes only three 

 species of powerfully -built though not very large carnivores, two 

 of which are limited to Africa south of the Sahara. A rather 

 peculiar appearance is given by the greater length of the fore- 

 limbs and the presence of an incipient mane. Hysenas are 

 digitigrade, and the four toes of each foot, both fore and hind, 

 are provided with non-retractile claws. The excessively strong 

 jaws are provided with teeth of marked carnivorous type, and the 

 biting apparatus is powerful enough to successfully negotiate the 

 hardest bones. Carrion is the chief food. The Spotted Hyaena 

 [Hycsna crocuta) and Brown Hyaena {^H. brunnea) are limited 

 to South Africa, while the Striped Hyaena [H. striata) has a 

 much wider distribution, inhabiting the temperate and warm parts 

 of both Africa and Asia. 



4. The family of Earth-Wolves (Protelidae) is instituted for 

 the reception of a single species, the Earth-Wolf {Aardwolf) of 



