286 
VEETEBRATA. 
been the custom, among other fabulous assertions, to state that the hyena is not to be tamed, but 
Mr. Bennett, who had an opportunity of observing them in the Tower Menagerie, says there is 
scarcely any animal that submits with greater facility to the control of man. He speaks of the ■ 
docility and attachment to his keepers manifested by the striped hyena, especially when allowed 
a certain degree of liberty, which the animal shows no disposition to abuse, though those which 
are carried about from fair to fair in close caravans are surly and dangerous from irritation and 
ill-treatment. The individual which Mr. Bennett describes was remarkably tame, and confined 
in the same den with one of the American bears. Colonel Sykes remarks, that this species, the 
Ticrrus of the Mahrattas, is numerous in the Deccan, and susceptible of the same domestication 
as a dog. Other travelers speak of the hyena as capable of being tamed, and performing the duty 
of watch-dogs. 
The striped hyena is found in Asia, the mountains of Caucasus, and the Altaian chain, Asiatic 
Turkey, Syria, Persia, Barbary, and Senegal, and even as low as the Cape. There are specimens 
in the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London, the Garden of Plants, Paris, and are common 
in the other menageries of Europe and those of this country. 
It seems uncertain whether this is the animal alluded to in the Bible. Some translate the 
words rendered in our copies of the Holy Scriptures "the valley of Zeboim " — 1 Sam. xiii. 18; 
Nehem. xi. 34 — as "the valley of hyenas ;" and the "Seventy" render the Avords given by 
the English translators as "a speckled bird," and "a bird of divers colors" — Jer. xii. 9 — as "the 
cave of the hyena," Sjrr/Aawv 'Taivrjc, while others would substitute one of the Hebrew letters com- 
posing the word in Samuel for another, and make the reading "vipers," as if certain streaked ser- 
pents were meant. Bochart shows that by the Tsabhua, or Tseboa, the word occurring in the 
ninth verse of the twelfth chapter of Jeremiah, the hyena was intended, and if this opinion be 
correct, there can be little doubt that "the valley of Zeboim" means "the valley of hyenas." 
Dzuba and Dubba are, it appears, Arabic names for this species. 
Whatever may be the opinions as to the striped hyena being alluded to in those passages of 
Scripture which we have quoted, there can be no doubt that it is the "Taiva of Aristotle and the 
Greeks. The most monstrous fables, as we have already intimated, were rife respecting this ani- 
mal, and the extent to which they had reached may be supposed, when we find Aristotle taking 
pains to demonstrate the absurdity of the assertion that the animal was bisexual, or a true her- 
maphrodite. It would be a waste of time and space to enumerate all the wonderful powers that 
were attributed to it; but among other accomplishments, in addition to those already alluded to, 
it was said to imitate the language of men, in order to draw to it shepherds, whom it devoured 
at leisure, and to have the power of charming dogs so that they became dumb ! 
The Spotted Hyena, S. maculata, is the Tiger- Wolf of the colonists at the Cape ; Canis cro- 
cuta of Erxleben and Gmelin; Hycena crocuta of Zimmerman; Hycena Capensis of Desmarest; 
Crocuta maculata of Gray. It inhabits Southern Africa, and is to be met with in large numbers 
in the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope. It is smaller than the striped species, and the bristly 
mane does not extend beyond the loins, betwixt which and the tail a few scattered, produced 
hairs only are observable. Its general tint, on the upper part of the body, is dull yellow, and the 
belly and limbs are blackish brown. A deeper tinge of this last spots almost every part of the' 
body. The character and habits of this species, in point of ferocity, do not differ materially from 
the striped hyena, except, perhaps, that they are even more daring when pressed by hunger, and 
more easily reduced to a state of domestication. Their feelings, both of hatred and aficction, i 
seem to be equally strong. Instances are recorded of individuals manifesting the liveliest aflec- 
tion and regard for their keepers ; while, on the other hand, they would exhibit the most violent 
rage against persons who had given them no cause of off"ense. Barrow relates that the spotted 
hyena is met with in a domesticated state in the district of Schneuberg, where it is found equal 
in point of intelligence and fidelity to the dog, and even more serviceable in the chase than that 
animal. In the wild state they have been known to enter the huts of Hottentots and carry off 
children, Avhen they were left unprotected ; and Thunberg tells us, that such is their audacity, 
that they will eat the shoes from ofi" the feet, and the saddle from under the head of the traveler, 
who happens to make his couch in the open air. 
I 
