174 
HYENAS ; 
and at the present day, there is no need of such large animals as the Hyenas to perform their 
necessary and nseful task of clearing the earth from the decaying carcasses, which cumber its 
surface and poison its air, for in our utihtarian age even the very hairs from a cow’s hide are 
turned to account, and the driest bones are made to subserve many uses. We need not the 
Hyenas, with their strong teeth, their powerful jaws, their rapid digestion, and their insatiable 
appetite. For the animal substances which are cast out unburied on our land are generally 
either eaten or buried by certain of the insect tribes, who are of a verity visible providences 
to us, assimilating into their own being, or that of their progeny, the putrefying matter that, 
but for their providential interference, would pour out clouds of poisoned gases, rife with 
pestilence and disease. 
In those countries, as well as in our own, there are carnivorous and flesh-burying insects, 
which consume the smaller animal substances ; but the rough work is left to those industrious 
scavengers the Hyenas, which content themselves with the remains of large animals. 
In the semi-civilized countries of Africa and Asia, the Hyena is a public benefactor, swal- 
lowing with his accommodating appetite almost every species of animal substance that can be 
found, and even crushing to splinters between his iron jaws the bones which would resist the 
attacks of all other carnivorous animals. 
There are several species of Hyenas, which are found in Asia and Africa, such as the 
Striped Hyena, sometimes called the Crested Hyena, or Strand Wolf, the Brown Hyena, and 
the Tiger Wolf, or Spotted Hyena. The habits of all these animals are very similar. The 
animals comprising this group are remarkable for their slouching, shambling gait, which is 
caused by the disproportion that exists between their legs. The fore-legs, which are used for 
digging, are powerful and well developed, but the hinder pair are so short that the line of the 
back slopes suddenly downwards from the hips, and gives to the creature a most sneaking and 
cowardly look. There are only four toes on each foot. 
Useful as is the Hyena when it remains within its proper boundaries, and restricts itself to 
its proper food, it becomes a terrible pest when too numerous to find sufficient nourishment 
in dead carrion. Incited by hunger, it hangs on the skirts of villages and encampments, and 
loses few opportunities of making a meal at the expense of the inhabitants. It does not openly 
oppose even a domestic ox, but endeavors to startle its intended prey, and cause it to take to 
flight before it will venture upon an attack. In order to alarm the cattle it has a curious 
habit of creeping as closely as possible to them, and then springing up suddenly just under 
their eyes. Should the startled animals turn to flee, the Hyena will attack and destroy them ; 
but if they should turn to bay, will stand still and venture no farther. It will not even attack 
a knee-haltered horse. So it often happens that the Hyena destroys the healthy cattle which 
can run away, and is afraid to touch the sickly and maimed beasts which cannot flee, and are 
forced to stand at bay. 
Among the warlike tribes that inhabit the greater part of Africa this cowardly disposition 
throws a sad discredit on the animal, and they lavish upon the Hyena their copious vocabu- 
lary of abusive terms. Even a weapon which has been used for the purpose of killing a Hyena 
is held by them as entirely defiled, and rendered unfit for the use of a warrior. Jules Gerard 
relates an incident of Hyena hunting, which, although it reflects a little upon himself, he 
narrates with much humor. 
He had left the encampment, and was proceeding hurriedly along the path, when he 
suddenly came upon a rough, hairy animal, which had been surprised by daybreak, and was 
shambling along towards its home with a limping, hobbling gait, and an air of blank astonish- 
ment. The animal, a Hyena, made off as fast as it could, and the hunter, having left his gun 
with an attendant who was lingering behind, was fain to draw his sabre, and charge the 
retreating beast as he best could. The Hyena was too quick for him, and plunging among the 
bushes disappeared into a cavity at the foot of a rock. 
The hunter was determined to secure the animal if he could, so he tied his horse to a bush, 
and crawled into the little cavern. When fairly inside he found that he was within a deserted 
stone quarry, where he could stand erect and freely use his arms. The cavern was so dark, 
however, that he could not see the Hyena, and the only indication of its presence was afforded 
