THE STRIPED HYAENA. 



in the dark ; hence it is probable that it can fee as well by night as day. Its 

 head is broad and flat, and the nofe is fhorter in proportion than that of the 

 "Wolf. Its body is covered with long, coarfe, afli-coloured hair, marked 

 with long black flripes, which are dilpofed in waves from the back 

 downwards, and are highly ornamental ; the legs are likewife adorned with 

 fome of thefe ilripes placed croflwife. The back is furnifhed with a 

 briftly mane, extending from the head to the tail, which, added to the 

 Hooping pofture in which it holds its head, gives it fomething of the 

 appearance of a Hog. It is probable that it owes its name to this 

 circumltance, the Greek word huaina, by which they diftinguifhed this 

 animal, being derived from hus, a Sow. Its tail is fhort, and well filled with 

 long, bufhy hair, which is fometimes of one colour and fometimes barred 

 with black. This animal has an opening juft under the tail, like the Badger, 

 which leads to a fort of pouch, furnifhed in the infi.de with glands, which 

 fecrete a thick fubftance, not unlike civet, but of a rank, difagreeable fmell ; 

 this might perhaps furnifli the ancients with the idea that it changed its fex. 

 The Hyaena refembles the Wolf in many particulars, but it polTefTes more 

 cunning and malice, and is more voracious and cruel. Its difpofition is fo 

 extremely ferocious, that it can never be tamed, though taken when young. 

 When it cannot procure other provisions, it invades the facred manfions of 

 the dead, ranfacks the graves, and devours the putrid bodies they contain, 

 even though they have been long buried. 



Its courage is not inferior to its rapacity. It boldly enters the lifts with 

 much larger quadrupeds, and rights with great obllinacy. It fears neither 

 the Lion nor Panther, will often attack the Ounce, and is in general 

 victorious. Kaempfer relates that he faw one which had put two Lions to 

 flight, regarding them with the utmoft coolnefs. 



The voice of the Hyaena is very Angular ; the beginning of it fomewhat 

 refembles the groaning of a human voice, w^cn gradually changes to a noife 

 not unlike that made by a violent effort to vomit. 



Savage and unfociable in its manners, it delights to lurk in caverns and 

 clefts of rocks, or in holes in the earth, which it digs like the Fox; thefe are 



