LiFE-HisTCJitY OF THE Jackal. 237 



is tlie erection of jackal-proof fencing-; the new pens appear to scare 

 them out of the area for a time, but they eventually become accus- 

 tomed to them and return." " They are usually local, if not hunted 

 or driven elsewhere by hunger ; but the young- ones when nearly 

 adult are driven away by the old ones." Hunting- them down with 

 dog-s would seem to have even g-reater terror to the jackal than the 

 causes above mentioned ; but as this would seem not to be carried out 

 all the year round for various reasons, the jackals return ag-ain after 

 the terror has worn off by the inaction of the hunters. 



Breeding Habits. 



The period of gestation is said to be about two months. By far 

 the majority of writers concur in placing- the breeding- season as the 

 latter part of the winter, the young- being born from Aug-ust to 

 October; but a few have noted the appearance of young and found 

 them in embryo in other months of the year. The litter is stated 

 to vary usually between three and seven, sometimes two to nine, 

 some writers stating that they are not all reared successfully, a 

 smaller number being noted to accompany the adults. The young- 

 are usually born in holes, otherwise amongst loose boulders, under 

 krantzes, in caves, hollows under flat stones or dry branches washed 

 together in sluits, in old antheaps, or even in holes excavated by the 

 jackal itself under large flat stones. The following notes on the 

 character of the holes occupied are of special interest: " As soon as 

 the young- are able to crawl their mother takes them to a small hole 

 where they alone can crawl in ; when she returns at night their 

 attention is attracted and they crawl out to her." " In holes with 

 two entrances." "Never in holes in i)ure earth, always in stony or 

 gravelly places where they would be hard to dig out."^ " Meercat 

 holes to start with, later moving to larger ones." " In holes that 

 are hidden or partly hidden by bush, never in exposed li.jles." 

 " Generally near water, and as near as possible to the feeding- 

 grounds." Several writers note that upon the least suspicion of the 

 holes having been discovered, the young are removed (even m day- 

 light) to another hole some distance away, and in removing them they 

 are carried in the same way as puppies, by their mother. The mother 

 remains with her young for a time, varying according to different 

 authorities from a few days to a month, after which she remains in 

 the neighboorhood during daylight, and in this way is able to afford 

 them protection by removing them when she suspects or know< that 

 their retreat has been discovered. There are a number of cases noted 

 in which the pups have been observed playing outside the holes auring 

 daylight, of which advantage is sometimes taken to shoot them, by 

 lying in wait until they emerge. The part taken by the parents in 

 the care of their young would seem to vary, the female apparently 

 attending to their wants while they are very young, but as they grow 

 older the male also helping to provide them with food. There are 

 numerous records to show that when the young- are big enough to eat, 

 the mother disgorges meat she has eaten for their benefit, and as it .s 

 claimed that this habit is peculiar to the female, the conclusion is 

 that she alone provides for them while they are very young. It is 

 claimed by some writers that on account of this habit the female is 

 not easily poisoned, the meat being vomited up as soon as the effect 

 of the poison is felt. There are records, however, of both parents and 



