ELYE'NA, a genus of digitigrade carnivorous quadrupeds, included in the genus eanie by LiIIIMUS, and by some naturalists referred to the family canidar, but now more generally to viverridce, whilst the dentition connects it even with _Niche. Hyenas have six incisors and two canine teeth in each jaw, five molars on each side in the upper jaw, and four in the under. Tiley seize an object with so firm a hold, that, among the Arabs, they are proverbial for obstinacy.. The vertebric of the neck sometimes be come anchlosed in old hyenas. The hind-quarters are lower and weaker than the fore quarters of the body, so that hyenas move with a shambling gait. The body is covered with rather long coarse hair, forming a mane along the neck and back. The feet have each four toes. The claws are strong, fit for digging, and not retractile. The tail is rather short. Beneath the anus is a deep glandular pouch, contributing much to the offensive odor by which hyenas are characterized. Hyenas eat carrion, as well as newly killed prey, and are of much use, like vultures, as scavengers, clearing away the last remnants of carcasses that, if left to rot, would greatly pollute the air. They sometimes attack cattle, especially if they flee, but rarely man, though they sometimes seize chil dren. During the day they hide themselves in caves, old rock tombs, ruined edifices, etc.; by night, they roam singly or in packs in quest of prey. They prowl about towns and villages, and often dig up corpses that have riot been very deeply buried. This, together with their aspect and manners, has caused them to be generally regarded with horror, and very exaggerated accounts of their fierceness have been prevalent. Instead
of being untamable, as was long the popular belief. they are capable of being very ::omplctely tamed, and show an attachment to man similar to that of the dog; they have even been used as watch-dogs. Ilyenas are found only in Africa and the s. of Asia, not extending to the farthest C. of the atter continent.—The STRIPED IfY7NA (If. td garL4 striate) is found both in Asia -.Aid Africa, and there are several varieties con siderably different in size, color, etc. The smallest hyenas are of the size of it large dog.—The SPOTTED HYENA (IL erocuta) inhabits s. Africa. It is rather smaller than the largest varieties of the striped hyenas, but is more fierce and dangerous. It is called TIGER-WOLF by the colonists of the cape of Good Hope. Besides its ordinary howling, which' it emits very freely in its nocturnal roamings, this hyena often indulges in an expression of gratification or of some passion, resembling hysterical laughter, whence it has acquired the name of tire LAUGHING HYENA. The general color is ochry gray, with thinly scattered small round brown spots, and sooty muzzle and fect.—The WOOLLY HYENA (if. Viii0S(/) is a smaller s. African species.
In consequence of the bones which hyenas eat, their dung forms solid yellowish white balls, of compact earthy fracture, the album uremia of the old materia medica.