JACKALS 459 



bull of the latter being tackled by a single hunting-dog is probably 

 unique. 



" I have taken pups from the breeding-burrows (which are never 

 excavated, although frequently enlarged, by the dogs themselves) in 

 March, at 4000 feet elevation, when they were a fortnight old, and in 

 June, July, and September, at 1000 feet elevation, when from one to 

 two months old. This would indicate that the period from March to 

 May is the breeding-time, although I am of opinion that they have no 

 regular season. I have twice seen a litter of four, once of six, and 

 once of eight ; but in the latter case the natives assured me that the 

 hole was occupied by two bitches. The young may be partially tamed, 

 but even then are always suspicious, and apt to snap. I have kept 

 several, one of which was a keen and successful hunter, and always 

 went foraging on his own account, although he would never consent to 

 hunt with my other dogs." 



JACKALS 



{Canis lupaster, etc.) 



Jackals come, perhaps, rather under the designation of vermin than 

 game, and have therefore little claim to notice in this volume, although 

 it may be advisable to devote a few lines to the African representatives 

 of the group collectively. There are no true wolves in Africa ; 

 although for that matter it is by no means easy to draw a line between 

 wolves and jackals, and the Egyptian jackal is not unfrequently termed 

 the Egyptian wolf. 



The largest representative of the whole group (which, by the way, 

 is confined to the warmer regions of the Old World) is the aforesaid 

 Egyptian jackal {Cants lupaster), which stands some 16 inches in 

 shoulder-height, with a total length of about 50 inches. Stoutly built, 

 with proportionately .short ears, this species has the upper -parts 

 yellowish grey mingled with black, which tends to collect in streaks 

 and spots. The muzzle, the backs of the ears, and the outer surfaces of 

 both pairs of limbs are reddish yellow ; the margins of the mouth are 

 white ; and the terminal half of the tail is darker than the back, with a 

 black tip. 



The Morocco jackal {C. anthus), of north-west Africa generally, is 

 a smaller, paler-coloured, sharper-nosed, and more lightly built animal 

 than its Egyptian relative. 



