THE SPOTTED HYiENA 99 



animal, attacking even" man at times. The beast concerned in the, often- 

 told story of the drunken trumpeter, who was effectually sobered by 

 finding himself being carried off by a Hyaena, was one of the present 

 species. 



The Brown Hyaena is naturally much less commonly seen, in cap- 

 tivity than the other kinds; but it has several times been exhibited in 

 our Gardens, and there is a specimen there at the time of writing. 



THE SPOTTED HY^NA 



(Ifycena crocutd) 



This is the typical Hyaena of Africa generally, .though not occurring 

 north of the Sahara; where the Striped species is the only one 

 found; in Somaliland, however, they meet. The Spotted Hyaena is 

 decidedly larger and more powerful .than either of the others .; it may 

 reach a length of over six feet from the nose to the tip of the tail. 



Its coat is short and close, and there is no mane on the back ; 

 the colour is clear, , marked with large black spots. 



The traditional laugh of the Hyaena is one of the characteristic 

 notes of this species, which has a rather extended vocabulary ; but the 

 horrid cackle of "laughter" is. commonly heard about a .carcase, and 

 seems to be the expression of annoyance in the animal. Ancient 

 tradition credited the Hyaena, with laughing to beguile its victims,, 

 and, although 'on the whole a cowardly brute, there is no doubt that 

 this species is the* most ferocious and dangerous of the three, ^nowa- 

 days at all events. 



Although its usual food is carrion, it frequently attacks domestic 

 animals, and even sleeping or wounded people, having a horrid custom of 

 snatching a mouthful from. some convenient part of its victim, and then 

 making off/: Thus, the tails. of domestic animals and the udders of cows 

 are torn away by it, and human beings have to dread having the cheeks 

 torn out, or a similar .attack .made on other fleshy parts- of the body. 



In the ordinary way the beast is nocturnal, but it must sometimes 



