H ViEN lu.'E. MAM M ALIA. Hy^nid.e. IOT 
with black ends, they impart to the organ a more or 
less ringed appearance. The habits of the African 
civet are by preference nocturnal. It is a good 
climber, and although particularly fond of birds and 
small quadrupeds, it does not reject fruits, roots, and 
other vegetable matters. 
Family IV.— HYAfNIDiE. 
In a zoological point of view, this family cannot be 
considered as equivalent to any of the three foregoing 
carnivorous groups. It is clearly 
osculant between the Viverridm and 
Felidte, resembling the cats in its 
dental formula, and the civets in 
nearly all other respects. In addition 
to the usual six incisives and four 
canines, the Hyaenas have eighteen 
molars, of which the anterior four- 
teen, that is, eight above and six 
below, are, according to the view of 
Professor Owen, spurious ; whilst, of 
the four remaining true molars, the 
upper pair are tuberculated, those of 
the lower series remaining sectorial 
in their character. The Hyaenas are 
further distinguished by their peculiar 
gait, depending upon the paramount 
lengthening of the anterior limbs as 
compared with the hind legs. This 
elongation is perhaps, on the whole, 
more apparent than real; nevertheless, 
taken separately, the tibia and fibula of 
the posterior extremity are shorter than the correspond- 
ing radius and ulna of the fore-limb. The feet are 
all tetradactylous. The ears are large, the eyes pro- 
minent, and the tongue covered with horny papillm. 
The body gradually declines from the shoulder towards 
the tail, supporting a bushy mane on the neck and 
central line of the back. There are fifteen or sixteen 
jiair of ribs. The tail is rather short, the anal glan- 
dular pouches being deep and capacious. So far as 
at present known, this family is exclusively confined 
to the eastern hemisphere. Numerous fossil remains 
of Hyaenas occur in the pliocene deposits, and more 
particularly in the ossiferous caverns of Great Britain 
and central Europe. 
THE AARD-WOLE {Proteles Lalandii) — fig. 29. — 
This is a very interesting animal, inasmuch as it con- 
stitutes one of those transitional or aberrant forms 
which serve to demonstrate the unity of plan pervading 
all organized beings. The various species which in- 
habit this planet, whether animal or vegetable, are not 
to be regarded as creations representing so many 
totally different designs, but they are rather to be 
looked uj)on as special modifications of one common 
archetypal plan. Speaking of secondary causes, we 
may say that nature developes progressively, and in 
accordance with the motto, ‘'‘‘Nihil per sallum." Such 
a view is ac the same time quite consistent with the 
notion that each animal — the Aard-wolf, for example 
— is an independent entity, a distinct species, a 
sejiarate creation, an expression of the Divine will. 
Observe how closely this creature resembles several 
other allied formsj In general appearance and attitude 
it is like the true hyaenas, and this apparent identity 
is perhaps even more obvious in the dentition and in 
the structure of the skeleton. In respect of its size, 
the form of the head, and in the circumstance of its 
excavating burrows for diurnal retreat, we notice its 
fox-like qualities, while in several other particulars it 
approaches the civets. The molars are small, and 
vary in number from sixteen to twenty. The fore- 
feet are pentadactylous, having the digit of the thumb 
Fig. 29. 
The Aard-Wolf (Proteles Lalandii). 
slightly raised. The hind-feet have only four toes. 
The tail is comparatively short. The texture of the 
fur is soft and woolly, except along the central line of 
the back and neck, where it is long and rigid, and 
forms an erectile mane, the individual hairs being 
upwards of si.x inches long. The body displays a 
yellowish ashy-brown colour, the sides being irregu- 
larly banded with eight or ten dark-brown stripes, 
whilst the legs are also lined with similar transverse 
markings. Like its congeners, the habits of the Aard- 
wolf are nocturnal, and it feeds on various kinds of 
animal and vegetable food, and from the observations 
of Sparrman, appears to be very partial to ants, thus 
reminding us also of the insectivorous habits of the 
bears. On the approach of daylight he retires to his 
self-constructed subterraneous burrow, and there lies 
concealed during the day. Aard-wolves are remark- 
ably timid and shy; and, as if to increase their security, 
they not only make their burrows near each other, 
but many are frequently found occupying the same 
hole, which, however, may have several outlets, so 
that they can all escape if disturbed. They are thus 
gregarious in their habits, and are also swift runners, 
notwithstanding the disproportion which exists between 
the anterior and posterior extremities. 
THE STRIPED HYAINA {IJycena strmto)— Plate 9, 
fig. 30.— This is the most widely distributed species, 
being found in abundance in the greater part of central 
Asia, Ilindoostan, Asiatic Turkey, Persia, Syria, and 
northern Africa. It is recognized by its brownish- 
