Hyenas are wolves--only wolves of a particular kind. They have the same
general habits as wolves, and much of their look. They have heavier
heads, broader thicker muzzles, shorter and stouter necks, and
altogether a coarser and shaggier coat. One of the most characteristic
marks of the hyena is the inequality in the development of its limbs.
The hind-legs appear weaker and shorter than the fore ones, so that the
rump is far lower than the shoulders; and the line of the back, instead
of being horizontal, as in most animals, droops obliquely towards the
tail.
The short thick neck and strong jaws are characteristics; the former so
much so, that in the days of fabulous natural history the hyena was said
to be without cervical vertebrae. Its thick neck and powerful jaw-bones
have their uses. It is by virtue of these that the hyena can make a
meal upon bones, which would be of no use whatever to the ordinary wolf
or other beast of prey. It can break almost the largest and strongest
joints, and not only extract their marrow, but crush the bones
themselves, and swallow them as food. Here, again, we have proof of
Nature's adaptation. It is just where these large bones are found in
greatest plenty that we find the hyena. Nature suffers nothing to be
wasted.
Hyenas are the wolves of Africa--that is, they are in Africa the
representatives of the large wolf, which does not exist there. It is
true the jackal is a wolf in every respect, but only a small one; and
there is no true wolf in Africa of the large kind, such as the gaunt
robber of the Pyrenees, or his twin brother of America. But the hyena
is the _wolf of Africa_.
And of all wolves he is the ugliest and most brute-like. There is not a
graceful or beautiful bit about him. In fact, I was about to pronounce
him the ugliest animal in creation, when the baboons came into my mind.
They of course exhibit the _ne plus ultra_ of ugliness; and, indeed, the
hyenas are not at all unlike them in general aspect, as well as in some
of their habits. Some early writers even classed them together.
Now we have been speaking of the hyena, as if there was but one species.
For a long time but one was known--the common or "striped hyena"
(_Hyena vulgaris_), and it was about this one that so many false stories
have been told. Perhaps no other animal has held so conspicuous a place
in the world of mystery and horror. Neither vampire nor dragon have
surpassed him. Our ancestors believed that he could fascinate any one
with his glance, lure them after him, and then devour them--that he
changed his sex every year--that he could transform himself into a
comely youth, and thus beguile young maidens off into the woods to be
eaten up--that he could imitate the human voice perfectly--that it was
his custom to conceal himself near a house, listen until the name of one
of the family should be mentioned, then call out as if for assistance,
pronouncing the name he had heard, and imitating the cries of one in
distress. This would bring out the person called, who of course on
reaching the spot would find only a fierce hyena ready to devour him!
Strange as it may seem, all these absurd stories were once very
generally believed, and, strange as it may seem in me to say, not one of
them but has _some_ foundation. Exaggerated as they are, they all owe
their origin to natural facts. At present I shall refer to only two of
these. There is a peculiarity about the glance of the hyena that has
given birth to the notion of his possessing the power to "charm" or
fascinate, although I never heard of his luring any one to destruction
by it; there is a peculiarity about the animal's voice that might well
gain him credit for imitating the human voice, for the simple reason
that the former bears a very near resemblance to the latter. I do not
say that the voice of the hyena is like the ordinary human voice, but
there are some voices it does exactly resemble. I am acquainted with
several people who have _hyena voices_. In fact, one of the closest
imitations of a human laugh is that of the "spotted hyena." No one can
hear it, hideous as it is, without being amused at its close
approximation to the utterance of a human being. There is a dash of the
maniac in its tones, and it reminds me of the sharp metallic ring which
I have noticed in the voices of negroes. I have already compared it to
what I should fancy would be the laugh of a _maniac negro_.
The striped hyena, although the best known, is in my opinion the least
interesting of his kind. He is more widely distributed than any of his
congeners. Found in most parts of Africa, he is also an Asiatic animal,
is common enough throughout all the southern countries of Asia, and is
even found as far north as the Caucasus and the Altai. He is the only
species that exists in Asia. All the others are natives of Africa,
which is the true home of the hyena.
Naturalists admit but _three_ species of hyena. I have not the
slightest doubt that there are twice that number as distinct from each
other as these three are. Five, at least, I know, without reckoning as
hyenas either the "wild hound" of the Cape, or the little burrowing
hyena (_Proteles_)--both of which we shall no doubt meet with in the
course of our hunting adventures.
First, then, 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, even
the dog! I have seen all of them at it on the battle-field. Why not
the hyena?
A third species is very distinct from either of the two described--the
"spotted hyena" (_Hyena crocuta_). This is also sometimes called the
"laughing" hyena, from the peculiarity we have had occasion to speak of.
This species, in general colour, is not unlike the common kind, except
that, instead of stripes, his sides are covered with spots. He is
larger than the _Hyena vulgaris_, and in character resembles Bruce's, or
the Abyssinian hyena. He is a native of the southern half of Africa,
where he is known among the Dutch colonists as the "tiger-wolf;" while
the common hyena is by them simply called "wolf."
A fourth species is the "brown hyena" (_Hyena villosa_). The name
"brown" hyena is not a good one, as brown colour is by no means a
characteristic of this animal. _Hyena villosa_, or "hairy hyena," is
better, as the long, straight hair falling down his sides gives him a
peculiar aspect, and at once distinguishes him from any of the others.
He is equally as large and fierce as any, being of the size of a Saint
Bernard mastiff, but it is difficult to imagine how any one could
mistake him for either a striped or spotted hyena. His colour is dark
brown, or nearly black above, and dirty grey beneath. In fact, in
general colour and the arrangement of his hair, he is not unlike a
badger or wolverine.
And yet many naturalists describe this as being of the same species as
the common hyena--the learned De Blainville among the rest. The most
ignorant boor of South Africa--for he is a South African animal--knows
better than this. Their very appellation of "straand-wolf" points out
his different habits and haunts--for he is a seashore animal, and not
even found in such places as are the favourite resorts of the common
hyena.
There is still another "brown hyena," which differs altogether from this
one, and is an inhabitant of the Great Desert. He is shorter-haired and
of uniform brown colour, but like the rest in habits and general
character. No doubt, when the central parts of Africa have been
thoroughly explored, several species of hyena will be added to the list
of those already known.
The habits of the hyenas are not unlike those of the larger wolves.
They dwell in caves, of clefts of rocks. Some of them use the burrows
of other animals for their lair, which they can enlarge for themselves--
as they are provided with burrowing claws.
They are not tree-climbers, as their claws are not sufficiently
retractile for that. It is in their teeth their main dependence lies,
and in the great strength of their jaws.
Hyenas are solitary animals, though often troops of them are seen
together, attracted by the common prey. A dozen or more will meet over
a carcass, but each goes his own way on leaving it. They are extremely
voracious; will eat up almost anything--even scraps of leather or old
shoes! Bones they break and swallow as though these were pieces of
tender flesh. They are bold, particularly with the poor natives, who do
not hunt them with a view to extermination. They enter the miserable
kraals of the natives, and often carry off their children. It is
positively true that hundreds of children have been destroyed by hyenas
in Southern Africa!
It is difficult for you to comprehend why this is permitted--why there
is not a war of extermination carried on against the hyenas, until these
brutes are driven out of the land. You cannot comprehend such a state
of things, because you do not take into account the difference between
savage and civilised existence. You will suppose that human life in
Africa is held of far less value than it is in England; but if you
thoroughly understood political science, you would discover that many a
law of civilised life calls for its victims in far greater numbers than
do the hyenas. The empty review, the idle court fete, the reception of
an emperor, all require, as their natural sequence, the sacrifice of
many lives!