420 



JACKALS 



which had seized upon them. " It is a crafty, lively, and liltidi- 

 nous creature," observed a writer of the last century. 



Of Jackals there are many species, Ijoth African and Oriental. 

 Mr. de Winton allows the followi)ig list of African species ^ : — 

 C. antlias, C. variegatus, C. mesomclas, 0. httcralis. C. mesomelas 

 is distinguished by the broad black patch in the middle of the 

 back. These animals do not appear to go in packs as so many 

 Canidae do ; tliey live upon carrion, but also rob hen-roosts, and 

 commit other depredati(ins upon the live stock of farmers. The 

 " Quaha," C. hiferaUs, is distinguished from the last by its sharp 

 bark, and by the ol)vious side stripe which has given to it its 

 name. It is curious that it should live in apparent amity with 

 C. mesomelas, since the habits of the two are identical and would 

 lead, one might suppose, to a severe struggle for existence, in 

 which one of the two would disappear. Of Indian Jackals 

 C. aureus is the most familiar type. 



The European Wolf, Cauls lupus, was once, but is no longer. 



Fig. 210.— Wolf. Canis hqms. x |. 



an inhabitant of the British Islands. Their former prevalence 

 is indicated by many names of towns and villages, such as Ulceby 

 and Usselby in Lincolnshire, the town of Wolverton, and Woolmer 

 Forest. In Saxon times Wolves were very abundant ; and even 

 so recently as the reign of Elizabeth they were to be seen on 



1 rroc. Zoul. Soc. 1899, p. 5:33. 



