. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . imes,it creeps and lengthens itself like a serpent: it often sits upon its hind feet,and often springs upon its prey: its eyes are lively and full of fire. Itsaspect is beautiful, the body very active, the legs short, the tail thick andvery long, and the hair rough and bristly. Both male and female have aremarkable orifice, independent of the natural passages. It is a kind ofpocket, into which an odoriferous liquor filters. They pretend that it opensthis bag, or
. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . imes,it creeps and lengthens itself like a serpent: it often sits upon its hind feet,and often springs upon its prey: its eyes are lively and full of fire. Itsaspect is beautiful, the body very active, the legs short, the tail thick andvery long, and the hair rough and bristly. Both male and female have aremarkable orifice, independent of the natural passages. It is a kind ofpocket, into which an odoriferous liquor filters. They pretend that it opensthis bag, or pocket, to refresh itself when too hot. Its nose is very sharp,and its mouth narrow, which prevents it from seizing and biting any thingvery large; but this defect is amply supplied by its agility, courage, and by-its power. It very easy strangles a cat, although much larger and strongerthan itself; it often fights with dogs, and, of whatever size they are, it com-monly gets the better of them. It may easily be domesticated, and is thenmore tame, obedient, and affectionate than a cat. 160 MAMMALIA—HYiENA. THE STRIPED HY^ So striking, and even so singular, are the characteristics of the hyaena,that it is hardly possible to be deceived by them. It is, perhaps, the onlyquadruped which has but four toes to either the fore or hind feet: like thebadger, it has an aperture under the tail, which does not penetrate into theinterior parts of the body; its ears are long, straight, and nearly bare; itshead is more square and shorter than that of the wolf; its legs, the hindones especially, are longer; its eyes are placed like those of the dog; thehair and mane of a brownish gray, with transverse dark brown or blackishbands on the body, which stripes become oblique on the flanks and the coat is of two sorts; fur or wool, in small quantity, and long, stiff, andsilky hair. Its height varies from nineteen to twenty-five inches, and itsusual length, from the muzzle to the tail,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookidnaturalistsl, bookyear1851
