CARNIVORA. 
103 
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THE STRIPED HYiENA. HIENE RAYEE. 
Cams Hycena, L. 
The striped hyaena is of a dirty gray colour, with 
irregular stripes of a blackish brown ; and is re- 
markable for a bushy mane, like that of a hog, 
which passes from the back of the head, down the 
neck and back, to the tail, and which the animal 
erects when in a state of irritation, or about to at- 
tack. The fore legs, in common with the other 
species, are much longer than those behind, inde- 
pendent of which, its mode of walking induces, at 
first sight, an apparent lameness. Bruce attributed 
a real lameness to the left side of the hyaena, but 
none exists in reality ; and the appearance of it 
prevails as much on one side as on the other. It is 
about the size of a large dog, and inhabits the 
northern and north-eastern regions of Africa, to 
nearly as far south as the line, and the neighbouring 
parts of Asia. 
There is much confusion in the accounts, and 
many ridiculous reports have been circulated of this 
species, both in ancient and modern times, among 
the learned as well as the multitude. It would be 
interesting to trace these errors to their source, but 
the task is hopeless ; though a part of them, probably, 
as Bruce observed, is attributable to this circumstance, 
