LiFE-HiSTOHY or THE Jackal. 248 



found to be occupied. Do jackals lie close when drives are in pro- 

 gress, or do they bolt as soon as they observe what is toward, or ever 

 take refuge at once in holes? What results have been obtained with 

 foxhounds under different conditions of climate and environment? 

 How many packs are in existence in the neighbourhood? 



(2) Fencing. 



What fences have been found to be really effective in keeping- 

 out the jackal? Are the fenced areas only small ones in the midst of 

 large unfenced tracts of countrj^ or are they contiguous? How is the 

 maintenance of fencing affected by floods, conditions of climate, soil 

 or animals burrowing underneath them? Would fencing of wards 

 or other large areas be effective, having regard to the occurrence of 

 roads, railways, and rivers, where slackness in vigilance or other 

 uncontrollable factors might permit of jackals sneaking through? 

 What is the general opinion of farmers in regard to their sharing the 

 burden of fencing? 



(3) Poisoning. 



What poison is used and found to be most effective? In what 

 way is it put out? What precautions are taken against raising the 

 suspicions of the jackal? What time of day, and what season, are 

 found most suitable for putting out poison? Is poison left out per- 

 manently, or are places where it is put carefully marked so that it 

 can be removed from time to time? I)o jackals often carry the 

 poisoned bait for some distance and then drop it, or are such cases- 

 exceptional? To what extent has it been found that the sex or age 

 of the jackal affects the usefulness of poison? What factors operate 

 against the employment of poison, such as the destruction of dogs, 

 stock, game or other animals, in which it must be remembered that 

 some of the smaller carnivores are useful in keeping down the undue 

 increase of rats and mice? Is it possible to judge in any way what 

 effect the poison has upon the actual destruction of the jackal or other 



carnivores : 



(4) Tvapinng. 



What kind of traps are found to be the best? Have attempts 

 been made to trap them alive in double-fenced enclosures, with sheep 

 or female jackals placed in the inner one? Is bait used or not and 

 if used, what bait is found to be most attractive? What conditions 

 of environment and weather are found to be most suitable? At what 

 time of day is it found best to set the traps and visit them, and what 

 precautions is it necessary to take to secure the best results? What 

 advantages and disadvantages are there in trapping? Is it found that 

 too much time is taken up by the distances to be traversed, inter- 

 ference by thieves, rusting of metal, destruction of other animals, 

 damage to stock, to make it worth while trapping? Are natives to be 

 trusted not to turn the traps to other purposes, or does the reward 

 offered induce them to do their best? 



(5) J ^ est roiling Jachala in Holes. 



Are holes on the farms marked m any way so that they can 

 leadilv and svstematicallv be examined at the breeding season? When 



