OF THE CROCVTA. [ 30]
* 1.1THe third kind of the Hyaena is called Crocuta not the Gulon aforesaid but another different from that, which is said to be an Aethiopian foure-footed beast, because it is ingen∣dred betwixt a lionesse and an Hyaena. His teeth are all of one bone, being very sharpe on both sides of his mouth, and included in fleshlike as in a case, that they may not be dulled: with their teeth they breake any thing. It is said also by Solinus that it neuer winketh, & that their nature seemeth [ 40] to be tempered betwixt a dogge and a Woolfe, yet is it more fierce then either of both, more admirable in strength, and especially of the teeth and belly, hauing power to breake and digest any bone: it imita∣teth also the voice of a man to deuour them, as is said before in the Hyaena.
In the Region Dachinabades, which is a mediterranean Country in the East, containing great and high mountaines. Amongst other wild Beasts, are abundance of these Crocut••••s, and at the marriage of Antonius the sonne of Seuerus the Emperour, to Plautilla the daugh∣ter of Plautianus, amongest the spectacles set foorth for the delight of the beholders, was a combat betwixt an Elephant and this beast, which before that time was neuer to be seene at Rome (as Dion reporteth) and thus much for the thirde kinde of Hyaena, except I may ad [ 50] thereunto that Beast which the Italians call Loupchatt, that is Lupus Catus, a Wolfe-cat, re∣sembling in face a cat with sharpe and harmefull clawes, being betwixt a blacke and spotted colour, and was called an Indian wolfe, and this was to be publickely seene, in the Byshops castle at Trent.