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The Hyaena is a native of many parts of Asia and A* 
frica, but by far most numerous in Abyssinia. Hyaenas 
generally inhabit caverns and rocky places, they prowl 
about chiefly by night, and feed on the remains of dead 
animals, as well as on living prey ; they attack cattle, and 
frequently commit great devastation among the flocks* 
Though not gregarious from any sociahprinciple, they some- 
times assemble in troops, and follow, with dreadful assidui- 
ty, the movements of an army, through the hope of feasting 
upon the slaughtered bodies. In Barbary, the Hyaena feeds 
on succulent bulbous roots, as the fritillaria, and the ten- 
der shoots of palms, &c. has no courage by day, but 
flies and hides himself from man ; while in Abyssinia, where 
he has more opportunities in indulging his appetite for 
animal food, he is so bold as to prowl about in the day 
time, and to attack with savage fury, such animals as 
chance may throw in his way. The voice of the Hysena 
is very peculiar ; its beginning seems somewhat like the 
moaning of the human voice, and ending like a person 
making a violent effort to vomit. His courage is said by 
some to equal his rapacity, and he will on occasion, defend 
himself with great obstinacy, against much larger animals. 
There is something, however, in his aspect, that indicates 
a peculiar gloomy and ferocious disposition. When the 
Arabs take any of these animals, they are very care- 
ful to bury the head, lest the brain, according to their 
superstition, should be made use of in sorcery or inchan t- 
ment. 
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