THE HYENAS. 105 



said to be continued even upon the tail, the latter organ being 

 furnished with strong tufted hair of considerable length. The 

 mane and the tail are both marked with blackish spots or stripes, 

 variously and irregularly placed. Much variety is indeed to be 

 met with as well in the ground colour of the whole body as in the 

 disposition of the markings, which are extremely different in 

 different individuals." 



They are also subject to considerable diversity in size. An 

 ordinary fair-sized animal will measure between four and a half 

 to five feet in length from nose to root of tail, the tail in itself be 

 about ten inches, and . the height at the shoulder, two or three 

 inches under three feet. 



The hygena is essentially a nocturnal animal and seldom, if ever, 

 moves abroad during the day, but prefers the gloom of rocky 

 caverns, the solitude of ancient ruins ; or, if resting-places of this 

 description are not available, he will burrow a hole in the ground 

 and there sleep till the sun sets, when forth he comes to seek 

 his food and make night hideous with his dismal and maniacal 

 howling. 



The propensity of these animals to howl continually when 

 abroad is extraordinary, and the object they have is a mystery. 

 That it is not to call their mates is proved by the fact that they 

 continue their cries when separating from each other ; and, again, 

 the animals are not gregarious, but prefer hunting singly, 

 and only assemble in any number when an abundance of carrion 

 attracts them to a common centre. The atrocious noise they 

 delight in making certainly appears in one way to be detrimental 

 to their own interest, for it alarms the animals that might become 

 their victims, and renders the capture of living prey much more 

 difl&cult. This, however, may be their object, for hyaenas are said 

 to be most cowardly beasts, and will not attack even very much 

 smaller creatures than themselves, unless they are in full flight, 

 but slink away if they stand up and face them. Another purpose 

 the uttering of such dismal howls may serve is to inspire fear, 

 and in this way frighten other animals from their own lawful 

 prey, for by flying in their terror, they leave it for the prowling, 

 carrion-seeking hyenas. 



