CAENTVOEOUS QUADEUPEDS. 



55 



houses, and thus often 

 save them from pesti- 

 lential diseases. 



86. The Hyaenas, of 

 which one species is 

 represented in Figure 

 37, are found in Asia 

 and Africa. They are 

 generally classified in 

 the dog family, though 

 there is some ques- 

 tion as to the place in 

 which they belong. — 

 They are exceeding- 

 ly ferocious, and live 

 chiefly upon animals 

 which they find dead. 

 They will even devour 

 the human body, and 

 are seen in large num- 

 bers in the neighboi-- 

 hood of armies, ready 

 to eat the bodies of 

 the slain. They are 

 among beasts what 

 the vultures are among birds, and, like the jackals, are 

 very useful as scavengers. The rear parts of the Hytena 

 are small, and hence its shambling gait ; but there is 

 great strength in the fore part of its body and in its jaws. 

 It can readily crush with its teeth the thigh bone of 

 an ox. 



87. The Weasel family (mustelidse) includes the Wea- 

 sels, Martens, Skunks, Otters, etc. These animals are, for 

 the most part, quite small, but they are very sanguinary 

 in their habits. ' They generally strike the neck of their 

 victims just behind the ear, piercing the large blood-ves- 

 sels, or drive their teeth into the skull. When they hare 

 02 



Fig. 37 Striped Hyieaa. 



