272 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



from the back downwards; there are others acrofs the 

 legs ; the hair, in general, is coarfe and rough ; its tail is 

 ihort and bufhy, with pretty long hair, fometimes plain, 

 and fometimes barred with black; immediately under- 

 neath the tail, and above the anus, there is an orifice like 

 that of the Badger, which opens into a kind of pouch, 

 and contains a fubftance of the confiftence of civet, but 

 of a rank, difagreeable odour. This opening may proba- 

 bly have given rife to the error of the ancients, who af- 

 ferted, that the Hyena was every alternate year male and 

 female. Its manner of holding its head is fomewhat like 

 a Dog purfuing a fcent, with its nofe near the ground. 

 This pofition of the head makes the moulders appear 

 more elevated. A briftly mane runs along the top of the 

 back from head to tail, which gives it an appearance 

 fomething like a Hog ; from whence, probably, it may 

 have derived its name; the word huaina being a Greek 

 word derived from hus 9 which fignifies a Sow. — Such are 

 the moft ftriking diftin&ions of the Hyena, which has 

 been pictured by ignorance and timidity under every 

 form that can ftrike terror into the imagination. Won- 

 derful powers were afcribed to it by the ancients, who 

 believed that it changed its fex ; that it imitated the hu- 

 man voice, and by that means attracted unwary travel- 

 lers, and deftr<3yed them ; that it had the power of 

 charming the mepherds, and as it were rivetting them 

 to the place where they ftood. Many other things, e- 

 qually abfurd, have been told of this animal : But thefe 

 are fufficient to mew, that objects of terror and fuperfti- 

 tion are nearly allied ; and when once they have taken 

 polfeffion of the human mind, the moft improbable Ho- 

 lies are eafily received and credited. 



It refides in the caverns of mountains, in the clefts of 



