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.