13 
The Spotted Hy^na {Hycena niaculatd) and the Striped 
Hya5NA (Jlycena striata) are members of the Family Hycsn- 
idcB, consisting of themselves and the Brown Hy^na, of 
which the Society does not, as yet, possess a specimen. 
They are readily distinguished from the dogs, which they 
somewhat resemble, by the excess of length in the fore 
over the hind limbs. Their molar teeth are unusually 
strong and the jaw muscles are very powerful, thus ena- 
bling them to crush with ease large bones, which they 
devour. 
The Striped Hyaena inhabits both Africa and India, and 
presents a marked appearance by reason of a mane or crest 
of hair, running the length of the spine, and which it has 
the power to raise at will, probably for the purpose of in- 
creasing its bulk and giving to itself a more frightful appear- 
ance, thereby deterring from an attack those enemies which 
would otherwise overcome and destroy it. It is more cow- 
ardly in disposition and solitary in habit than the Spotted 
Hyaena, which is confined to the southern part of Africa. 
A great deal is currently believed of the Hyaena which is 
without doubt much exaggerated ; for instance, its reputation 
of being a persistent and incorrigible ghoul, which has passed 
so generally into belief that skulls and tombstones are usually 
introduced as background in portraits of the unfortunate ani- 
mal — the truth being that the Hyaena seems to be closely on 
a par with the dogs and wolves in the matter of diet, prefer- 
ring his bones fresh and eating carrion only when it is much 
more convenient to get at. 
The Viverridce is a large family of carnivorous mammals of 
small size, all resembling, more or less, the Civets, in appear- 
ance and habits ; they are of active and graceful movements, 
many of them living much among trees; all feeding upon 
smaller quadrupeds, birds, eggs, and reptiles. They chiefly 
inhabit Africa and Southern Asia, one species each being found 
in Europe and America. 
Among them are the Indian Civet {yiverriciila indica), 
the Palm Cat (^Paradoxurus musanga), the Common Para- 
DOXURE {Paradoxurus typus), the Gray Ichneumon {Her- 
pestes griseus) from India and the surrounding islands, and 
the beautiful Civet Cat or Ring-tailed Bassaris {Passaris 
astuta) of Texas and Mexico. It is probable that the latter 
animal possesses affinities which ally it more closely with the 
