38 UESID^. 



Hysena, Linn . — Tubercular grinders of upper jaw with three roots. 

 Flesh tooth with three lobes ; the front one large. 



Hyaena striata, Zimm. Geogr. ii., p. 256; Gray, P. Z. S. U _, 

 p. 524; Cat. Mam. Br. Mii>s. p. 212; Jerd. Mam. Ind. p. 118; Murray, 

 Edbh., ZooL, 3fo., Sind, p. 87. H. vulgaris, Desm. Mam. p. 215. Canis 

 hysena, Linn. Syst. Nat, i, p. 58. Thurruss, Gherrag, Sind.— The 

 Hyjina. 



Colour variable, generally of a pale yellowish or uniform gray, rather 

 paler beneath. Sides, shoulders, haunches, and outside of the legs 

 striped irregularly blackish. Mane and tail also striped or spotted 

 black. Front of the neck, muzzle and outside of the ears black ; the 

 latter broad, and nearly destitute of hairs, especially inside; mane on 

 the back of the neck full, and continued, though less distinctly, along 

 the back to the tail. On the back the stiflBsh hairs are 4 — 8 inches in 

 length. 



Hob. — The hyaena is found throughout India, affecting the hilly 

 districts; also in Asia, Africa, the Caucasus, Persia, Beloochistan, 

 Turkey, Syria, Senegal and the Cape. In India it is with the 

 jackal a noisome pest. 



It lives in holes in the ground, or cliffs of rocks, and preys by night, 

 breaking like the wolf into sheep-folds, and attacking and carrying 

 away dogs. It however has its place in the economy of nature, being 

 a useful scavenger. It is said to possess the peculiar gift of being able 

 in some measure to imitate the cries of other animals, by which means, 

 dogs, calves, and sheep are beguiled. The ancients believed that it 

 changed its sex, imitated the human voice also, and had the power of 

 charming the shepherd, and as it were rivetting him to the place 

 he stood on, and also dogs, so that they became dumb. The super- 

 stitious Arabs, according to Shaw, when they kill a hyaena, carefully 

 bury the head, lest it should be applied to magical purposes. They 

 also attribute preternatural powers to its remains. 



It is said to manifest great attachment to its keeper when tamed, 

 and to be susceptible of the same domestication as the dog. 



Family, URSID^,— Beaes. 



Plantigrade mammals with normally f incisors ; canines jt^t ; pi'e- 



molars ■^. ; molars r^. Two tuberculated teeth on each side in 



the upper jaw, and one or two in the lower jaw. Feet broad and 

 short and generally callous below. Tail short. Nose rather produced, 



Ursus, Gray. — Teeth as in the characters of the Family. False 

 grinders or molars small, distant, often deciduous. Hinder tubercular 

 molar large, elongate, larger than the flesh tooth. 



