LOVERS OF THE CHASE AND OTHERS 73 



This is a bold, courageous hound; for mankind it cares but 

 little, evincing, as a matter of fact, considerable curiosity at the 

 latter's approach, and merely steering clear for fear of anything 

 untoward happening. When disturbed with young, however, we 

 are told that they do not seek shelter in the large holes on the 

 desolate open plains which they frequent at such times, but retreat 

 hastily across the waste land accompanied by their young. 



Gordon Cumming, the big game hunter, writing about 1845, 

 remarks that "the devastation occasioned by them among the flocks 

 of the Dutch Boers is inconceivable. It constantly happens that 

 when the careless shepherds leave their charge, in quest of honey or 

 other amusement, a pack of these marauders comes across the 

 defenceless flock. A sanguinary massacre in such cases invariably 

 ensues, and incredible numbers of Sheep are killed and wounded. 

 The voracious pack, not content with killing as many as they can 

 eat, follow resolutely on, tearing and mangling all that come within 

 their reach." 



Among other vastly interesting things the same observer also 

 notes that the "voice consists of three different kinds of cry, each 

 being used on special occasions. One of these cries is a short angry 

 bark, usually uttered when they behold an object which they cannot 

 make out. Another resembles a number of Monkeys chattering 

 together, or men conversing together when their teeth are chattering 

 violently from cold. This cry is emitted at night, when large 

 numbers of them are together, and they are excited by any particular 

 occurrence, such as being barked at by domestic dogs." But the 

 third and last cry is the most curious, I think, of all, for it 

 "resembles the second note uttered by the Cuckoo which visits our 

 islands during the Summer months, and, when heard in a calm 

 morning echoing through the distant woodlands, has a very pleasing 

 effect." 



Truly this is a wonderful adept animal so far as concerns its 

 hunting proclivities. There is no other beast exactly like it, and in 

 spite of the depredations enacted it would be a thousand pities if we 

 lost it from the African fauna. Since Gordon Cumming's day the 

 beast has become less conspicuous, but it is to be hoped that it will 

 remain a typical inhabitant of open dry country in Africa for many 

 years to come. Among Cattle and Sheep it commits, it is true, sad 

 havoc, but to the naturalist the manner in which it hunts for its 

 prey is bound to make a strong appeal, and not the least interesting 



