CARNIVORA. 
109 
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THE PAINTED HYiENA. HIENE PEINTE. 
Hycena Ficta. Temminck. 
This new species was sent lately from Mosam- 
bique to this country alive. It died shortly after its 
arrival, and was deposited in the museum of Mr. 
Riddell, but afterwards sold to Mr. Temminck, the 
celebrated naturalist, who has described it* under 
the name of Mine 'peinte^ hycena picta. 
Mr. Temminck identifies this with the animal next 
mentioned, which is in the possession of Mr. Burchell, 
the African traveller ; and attributes all he learned 
from that gentleman, relating to the animal in his 
possession, to his own hihne peinte, treating them 
as varieties, and not distinct species t. We have fre- 
quently had occasion to remark, that what constitutes 
a variety, and what distinct species, is not clearly 
* Annales Generales des Sciences Physiques, 3 t. 
t The existence of distinct species never has been satisfactorily 
proved ; and it is probable that, if all the animals of the globe were 
known, most, if not all the species would be so entangled together, 
that there would be no distinguishing them. It therefore behoves 
us to describe all the varieties that come under our consideration ; 
but whether we call them varieties or species is of very little conse- 
quence, except so far as relates to a few superficial collectors, who 
hardly ever think of looking after a mere variety, as they call it, al- 
though it may illustrate one of the most doubtful points in the 
science. — J. E. G. 
