BEASTS OF PREY 35 



powerful skull, short jaws, and strong teeth point to an extraordinary 

 power of mastication. The hysena, indeed, is able to crush bones which 

 even resist the lion's jaws. This faculty enables it to make use of the 

 remains of the meals of other carnivores. 



When complete darkness has set in, these animals leave their caves 

 and go in packs in search of carrion. For the purpose of keeping 

 together they set up an abominable howling. As soon as they have 

 discovered the spoil, the hideous concert ceases and the loathsome feast 

 begins. They are the true " vultures " (which see) among mammals. 

 They will even dig up human bodies which have been buried near the 

 surface. To man they are an object of special aversion by reason of 

 their hideous shape, their disagreeable voice, their dreadful cowardice, 

 their loathsome smell, and the depredations they commit among the 

 herds. Their home is in Africa and Western Asia, where there is never 

 any dearth of carrion. 



The Spotted Hyaena {Hycena crocuta). 



The spotted hysena, the skin of which is dotted over with dark 

 spots, is an equally repulsive creature. It is found in South and East 

 Africa. When famished, it will even seize children and attack sleeping 

 or exhausted men. 



Family 3 : Dogs (Canidae) . 



I. The Wolf (Caiiis lupus). 



(Length of body about 4 feet ; height at shoulder nearly 3 feet.) 



A. Structure and Mode of Life. 



1. The coat of the wolf is thicker and longer in Northern districts 

 than in the South. Its colour is gray or blackish, like that of the 

 soil. In Northern countries the white predominates ; in the South the 

 black. The summer coat is always darker than the winter coat. The 

 tail is covered with bushy hair. 



2. It is possessed of an extraordinarily fine sense of smell, which it 

 employs in the scenting out and pursuit of its prey. By its help it dis- 

 covers an animal even at a great distance, and the least possible trace of 

 scent which may cling to the ground serves it as a sure guide to its victim. 



The nostrils are wide and the nasal muscles very large, which enables 

 it to examine large quantities of air for odoriferous substances. The 

 nose is always kept moist, since odours cannot be perceived when the 

 nose is dry. 



3. Though the sense of hearing is less acute than that of smell, it is 



3—2 



