Aard-Wolf (earth wolf; proteles Lalan-dii, viverra cristata), a singular quadruped, of the digitigrade carnivorous mammalia, first brought from Caffraria by the traveller Dela-lande. To the external appearance and osteo-logical structure of the hyena it unites the head and feet of the fox, and the intestines of the civet. It has five toes on the fore feet, the interior one of which is situated high above the others, and does not touch the ground, and but four behind. Its fore legs are much longer than the hind ones, which makes it comparatively slow in its motions. In size it is about equal to a full-grown fox, which it also resembles in its pointed muzzle; but it stands much higher on its legs, while its ears are larger and more naked, and its tail shorter and not so bushy. It has a coarse, stiff mane, which runs along the whole of its neck and back, and is erectile when the animal is enraged. Its general color is pale ash, with a slight tinge of yellowish brown; the muzzle is black, and nearly naked, with the exception of a few stiff moustaches, Around its eyes, and on each side of the neck, are dark brown transverse marks, and on the body are eight or ten similar bands, the arms and thighs being barred with the same color.

Its legs and feet are dark brown behind, and gray on the inner surface. The long hairs of the mane are gray, with two bands of black, the latter occupying the tips; those of the tail, which are equally stiff, are of the same color. The ears are brown without, and gray internally. In habits it resembles the fox, constructing burrows, in which it sleeps during the day, going abroad and feeding only by night. It is timid, inoffensive, and shy in its habits, but many individuals are ordinarily found residents of the same burrow, which has always several apertures for escape. It is said to run very fast, in spite of the excessive length of its fore legs.