62 



MAMMALIA—ORDER IV.—CARNIVORA. 



Tie Aard-Wolf. 

 — Family 



Proldeidm. 







remarkable dentition. The canines are minute, and like the iirst three 

 premolars, whicl are widely separated from one another, and the molars 

 are but little different from the premolars. Indeed, the whole dentition 

 is strikingly like that of an Insectivore, and there can be little doubt 

 that this highly modified mungoose subsists entirely or chiefly on 

 insects. 



A peculiar hysena-like animal from Africa, known to the Dutch as the aard- 

 wolf, and scientifically as Proteins cristatns, is regarded as representing a 

 family by itself, distinguished by having the auditory bulla 

 of the skull divided by a septum into two chambers, and by 

 the small and degraded characters of the cheek-teeth, among 

 which there is but a single pair of molars in each jaw. In 

 the fore-feet there are five toes, but in the hinder pair the 

 number is reduced to four ; their claws being strong, blunt, and non- 

 retractile. In appearance, the aard- 

 wolf is curiously like a small striped 

 hyjena, with a more pointed muzzle, 

 longer ears, and a thick mane of elon- 

 gated erectile hair along the neck and 

 back. Common in South Africa, this 

 animal has also been recorded from 

 Angola and Somaliland. It feeds on 

 carrion, grubs, and white ants. 



From the two preceding families the 

 hyasnas, of which all the three existing 

 species may be included in the single 

 genus Hycnia, differ by the absence of 

 any internal partition in the auditory bulla of the skull. In the living 

 species there is only one pair of molar teeth in each jaw, 

 the upper one being small, and placed on the inner side of the 

 carnassial. The latter tooth resembles the upper carnassial 

 of the cats in having three distinct lobes to the blade ; and 

 the lower cai-nassial has a bi-lobed blade and a very small 

 All the teeth are very strong and powerful ; the anterior 

 premolars being in the form of blunt cones ; and the skull, in which the 

 sockets of the eyes are fieely open behind, is remarkable for the great height 

 of the crest on the middle of the upper part. The limbs are somewhat 

 elongated, especially the front pair ; the tail is relatively short ; and the fur 

 is loose and long. 



In appearance, hysenas are the most ungainly of all Carnivora, and thereby 

 present a marked contrast to the cats. They are nocturnal, gregarious, and 

 cowardly, feeding chiefly on carrion and carcases ; and being generally 

 unable or indisposed to kill the larger animals for themselves, feast on the 

 remnants of carcases left by lions and tigers. Fur cracking the bones of such 

 derelicts their powerful teeth and strong jaw-muscles are most admirably 

 adapted. 



The striped hyrena {H. siriaia) of India, South- West Asia, and North and 

 East Africa, is easily recognised by its transversely stri)5ed pellage, long fur, 

 which forms a mane on the shoulders and back, and large pointed ears. The 

 teeth are characterised by the relatively large size of the upper molar and 

 by the lower carnassial liaving a heel of considerable size, and a cusp on 

 the inner side of the blade. The brown hya-na {U. bruniica) of South 



Fig. 37. — Aard-Wolf (Proie^es crisiatus). 



The HysBnas,- 

 Family 

 Hycenidce. 



posterior heel. 



