FOX-HUNTING IN BECHUANALAND 111 



backed jackal {Canis 7nesomelas), jouJcuye of the 

 Bechuanas, and motluse jackal {Canis lateralis). 

 There is a third "fox," the curious Cape fennec 

 or long-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis), which, how- 

 ever, is scarce and seldom hunted. Of these the 

 silver-backed jackal is, perhaps, the oftener met with, 

 and gives the better sport. He is wonderfully like 

 his much-hunted relative at home. I have watched 

 him in the far wilderness, just at dawn, as he steals 

 over the veldt, quitting the scenes of his night-prowl 

 for some pleasant earth or comfortable corner of 

 the bush, and his whole demeanour, his shape, con- 

 figuration, and his beautiful action, smooth, subtle, 

 and gliding, stride for stride the exact counterpart 

 of that of his cousin of England, proclaim him a 

 fox of foxes. In colour, tliis jackal is, of course, 

 widely different. His back is blackish, thickly 

 sprinkled with the silvery hairs from which he 

 takes his name. The under-parts are of a brilliant 

 fox-colour. The motluse jackal is of a general warm 

 brown colouring, and has a very thick furry coat. 

 But besides these African foxes, two small antelopes, 

 the steinbok and duyker, which are common all over 

 South Africa, are also hunted, and very often give 

 excellent runs. The duyker, especially, will stand 

 before hounds in an astonishing manner, and has 

 no end of staying power, in addition to the tre- 

 mendous turn of speed with which all antelopes are 



