s, from the belief
that it only inhabited South Africa; but it is found as frequently in
Guinea as the striped variety, and has just the same propensities. Near
the Cape, however, it does more mischief, because colonists have settled
themselves there, and their farms afford more valuable prey. They are
said to prefer making an attack on strong, vigorous animals, because
they run away, and the hyaenas can follow them; but the weaker animals
turn round and face their enemy, which always intimidates them.

Mr. Steedman, a South African traveller, gives an unmitigated bad
character to the spotted hyaenas, and says, that such is their preference
for human flesh, that they will even pass by the cattle, and seize on
children as old as eight years.

The Straand Wolf of the Dutch, or the Villose Hyaena of Dr. Abel Smith,
who has done so much for the natural history of Southern Africa, is less
common than the other species; and often feeds on the shore, from its
preference for those dead animals which are cast up by the sea. If,
however, it be pressed by hunger, it commits just as many depredations
as the others. It is extremely cunning, conceals itself by day among the
mountains, or thick patches of forest, and preys at a great distance
from its habitation.

Mr. Pringle confirms Mr. Steedman's accounts of the terrible havoc
occasioned by the hyaenas of South Africa, and says, that in the district
of Somerset, they destroyed seventy foals in one year, belonging to the
farmers; he, however, believes, that they never attack human beings by
night or by day, and that they come in packs and play the part of
four-footed vultures, even devouring their own kindred if they should
chance to be killed; but no other beast of prey will eat them, from the
offensive rankness of their flesh. The den of a spotted hyaena, that was
kept in the Tower about twenty years ago, required some repair. The
carpenter nailed a thick oaken plank upon the floor, about seven feet
long, putting at least a dozen nails into it, each longer than his
middle finger. At one end of this piece of wood, there was a small
projection, and not having a proper chisel with him by which he might
remove it, the man returned to his shop to fetch one. While he was
absent, some persons came to see the animals; and the hyaena was let down
by the keeper into the part of the den in which the carpenter had been
at work. Directly the beast saw the projecting piece of wood, he seized