108 WILD ANIMALS. 



storm on one occasion, and succeeded in destroying the defences 

 tlie natives had built against them, and dragged off two donkeys 

 in spite of the efforts of the people. 



The hya3na,has a most peculiar gait, and although not giving one 

 the appearance of moving at a very rapid pace, yet contrives to get 

 over the ground in such a surprising manner, that it taxes the power 

 of a good horse to overtake it, and in spearing it the hunter finds 

 some difficulty both on account of the speed and the habit it has 

 of turning and doubling when overtaken. They appear some- 

 times as though they had suffered an injury that caused them 

 to limp, but this seems to be a habit that both the jackal, wolf, 

 and other dogs occasionally exhibit. Captain Beechey also notices 

 this singularity, for he says the hy^na " not only walks away very 

 slowly when advanced upon, but appears at the same time to have 

 a limping motion, as if he were lame of one leg." ® Dr. Shaw 

 writes : " A remarkable peculiarity in the hyaena, but which is some- 

 times observed in other dogs, &c., is that, when it is first dislodged 

 from cover, or obliged to run, it always appears lame for a con- 

 siderable space, and that sometimes to such a degree, according 

 to Mr. Bruce, as to make the spectator suppose one of the hind 

 legs to be broken ; but after running some time this affection goes 

 off, and he runs swiftly away." '' 



Hyaenas very rarely attack human beings. Occasionally when 

 compelled by absolute necessity, they will do so however, but their 

 victims are generally women and children. Major-General Burton 

 narrates an unusual attack made by one of these beasts : " A 

 woman at the Shervarvy hUls was fetching water from a stream 

 near her village when a hyaena rushed out of the jungle and 

 seized her by the arm, and endeavoured to drag her away. The 

 woman dropped her water- vessel ; but the hyaena would not let 

 her go, and she in her turn seized the beast by its long ears, and 

 tried to drag it towards the village. The villagers, attracted by 

 her frantic cries, rushed up, and found her on the ground 

 struggling with the hyeena. They attacked it with clubs, but it 



^ " Proceedings of the Expedition to Explore the Northern Coast of Africa," by 

 Captain F. W. Beechey, E.lsr., F.E.S., and H. W. Beechey, Esq., F.S.A. 

 "> " General Zoology," by Geo. Shaw, M.D., F.E.S., &c. 



