THE SPOTTED HYAENA. 



about for its prey, fending forth the mofl horrid yells every night. The 

 farmers guard their cattle by large Dogs, of which the Hyaena, though larger 

 and ftronger, is much afraid, and will not face them if it can avoid it. 

 Neither will it dare to attack Oxen, Horfes, or any of the larger animals, 

 whilft they defend themfelves, or even if they do not feem afraid. 



It fometimes attempts to difperfe a herd of cattle, by its hideous roaring ; 

 in which, if it fucceeds, it purfues one of them, and foon difables it by a 

 deadly bite, and then devours it. 



The Hottentots were formerly much molefted by thefe animals, which 

 were fo bold as to attack their huts, and carry off their children ; but the 

 introduction of fire-arms has put an end to thefe depredations. It is certain, 

 however, that numbers of thefe animals attend almoft every dark night 

 about the fhambles, at the Cape, to carry off the offals and bones left there by 

 the inhabitants, who take care never to diflurb their fcavengers ; the Dogs 

 too, who, at other times, are in a continual ftate of enmity with them, never 

 then moleft. them, and it is remarked that they are feldom known to do any 

 mifchief on thefe occafions. 



The howlings of the Hyaena are dreadful and alarming beyond defcription, 

 and an ingenious writer (a) remarks, that, " perhaps, Nature has kindly 

 impreffed this involuntary difpofition to yelling upon this animal, that every 

 living creature might be upon its guard, and fecure it from the attacks of fo 

 cruel an enemy." Whatever the phyfical reafon may be, it appears that a 

 difpofition to yelling or howling in the night is abfolutely implanted in this 

 animal by Nature, as a young one, which Dr. Sparrman faw at the Cape, 

 though it had been brought up tame by a Chinefe refident there, and was 

 then chained, was faid to be filent in the day time, but very often in the 

 night was heard to emit the yelling cry peculiar to its fpecies. In 

 compenfation for this faculty, by which the animal is, as it were, obliged to 

 give warning of its own approach, it is, on the other hand, actually pofTeffed 

 of a power, in fome degree, to imitate the cries of other animals ; by which 

 means it often fucceeds in deceiving and attracting Lambs, Calves, Foals, &c. 



