Volume 28, Plate XXIX / Mammalia (Mammals)

Strand Hyæna

Hyæna villosa

The strand hyaena, or Strand Wolf of the Cape colonists, is a distinct species considerably smaller, about four feet from nose to tail-end and two feet four at the shoulder, with deep forehead, erect pointed ears tufted with white, and a head grizzled in black, white, and reddish brown. Its body is dirty tawny-grey with irregular blackish spots and stripes; treacherous and slothful by day yet active by night, it devours sheep, hoards food, and licks marrow from broken bones.