en, we have the "striped" hyena already mentioned. He is
usually of an ashy grey colour with a slight yellowish tinge, and a set
of irregular _striae_, or stripes of black or dark brown. These are
placed transversely to the length of his body, or rather obliquely,
following nearly the direction of the ribs. They are not equally well
defined or conspicuous in different individuals of the species. The
hair--like that of all hyenas--is long, harsh, and shaggy, but longer
over the neck, shoulders, and back, where it forms a mane. This becomes
erect when the animal is excited. The same may be observed among dogs.

The common hyena is far from being either strong or brave, when compared
with the others of his kind. He is, in fact, the weakest and least
ferocious of the family. He is sufficiently voracious, but lives
chiefly on carrion, and will not dare attack living creatures of half
his own strength. He preys only on the smallest quadrupeds, and with
all his voracity he is an arrant poltroon. A child of ten years will
easily put him to flight.

A second species is the hyena which so much annoyed the celebrated Bruce
while travelling in Abyssinia, and may be appropriately named "Bruce's
hyena." This is also a _striped_ hyena, and nearly all naturalists have
set him down as of the same species with the _Hyena vulgaris_.
Excepting the "stripes," there is no resemblance whatever between the
two species; and even these are differently arranged, while the ground
colour also differs.

Bruce's hyena is nearly twice the size of the common kind--with twice
his strength, courage, and ferocity. The former will attack not only
large quadrupeds, but man himself,--will enter houses by night, even
villages, and carry off domestic animals and children.

Incredible as these statements may appear, about their truth there can
be no doubt; such occurrences are by no means rare.

This hyena has the reputation of entering graveyards, and disinterring
the dead bodies to feed upon them. Some naturalists have denied this.
For what reason? It is well-known that in many parts of Africa, the
dead are not interred, but thrown out on the plains. It is equally
well-known that the hyenas devour the bodies so exposed. It is known,
too, that the hyena is a "terrier"--a burrowing animal. What is there
strange or improbable in supposing that it burrows to get at the bodies,
its natural food? The wolf does so, the jackal, the coyote,--ay,