he 
THE HYjENA. 
71 
®6eins to take a strange pleasure in search- 
es for Water among the ruins of those ancient 
^Itl . ^ 
es which are scattered over the remoter 
and deserts of the countries in which 
® has fixed his inauspicious abode. The 
®6nce of these fierce beasts of prey amidst 
ssie ruins seems to he the very bitterness 
^ desolation : their bowlings form the most 
®ddful dirge over the proudest dust of human 
S’^andeur. 
"hire hyajna is not more ready to attack 
dkind than most of the larger and more 
j^'^ecious quadrupeds: but, when impelled by 
d§er, he invades the precincts of the village 
eanip in quest of horses, camels, asses, or even 
dry, he shows a disposition for offensive as 
^ as defensive warfare. At such times it is 
j^dngerous to attack him, as he will turn upon 
pursuer with desperate obstinacy. Owing 
fhe prodigious strength of his jaws, and 
peculiar articulation, his bite is most 
