342 THE HUNTING-DOG. 
with long bushy hair, which is for the greater part of a greyish-white hue, but is strongly 
tinged with black near its Insertion. In nearly all specimens there is a whitish patch 
below each eye. These tints are somewhat variable in different individuals, but preserve 
the same general aspect in all. 
There are many names by which this animal has been called ; in the writings of some 
authors it is mentioned under the title of the Painted Hyena, while by them it is 
termed the Hyzna-Dog. The Dutch colonists of the Cape of Good Hope, where this 
creature is generally found, speak of it by the name of Wilde Hund, or Wild Dog ; 
and it is also known under the names of Simir and Melbia. 
Its title of Hunting-Dog is earned by its habit of pursuing game by fair chase, and 
uniting in packs of considerable numbers for that purpose. As is the case with the 
gener rality of predaceous animals, it prefers the night for its season of attack, but will 
frequently undertake a chase in broad daylight. For the purpose of the chase it is well 
fitted, as it is gifted with long and agile limbs and with great endurance of fatigue. 
The excellent nose and admirable | hunting powers of the Hunting-Dog are really worthy 
of notice, when the performance of a pack of “ Wilde-honden ” is compared with those of 
a pack of foxhounds. How frequently the fox escapes from its pursuers is familiar to 
all who have paid the very least attention to the subject of field sports; yet we find 
that a pack of Hunting-Dogs will very seldom permit their prey to escape them, even 
though they are unassisted by the efforts of human allies. 
A successful and practical sportsman, who has witnessed the performances of fox- 
hounds and Hunting-Dogs, is inclined to give the palm to the latter animals, for their 
almost invariable success in the chase. “He suggests that to the ample nostrils and 
the wide forehead of the Hunting-Dog must be attributed much of the keen scent and 
the apt intelligence that renders these animals so successful in their united efforts, He 
also offers a further suggestion, that it appears as though freedom were a necessary 
adjunct to the hunting ‘Spirit, for we cannot train any animal to hunt with half the 
real zest which the same creature exhibits in its native or wild state. 
This animal is not unfrequently found to prefer the easy task of attacking a sheepfold 
or a cattle-pen to the more laborious though more legitimate pursuit of prey in the 
open country. In such a case, it does terrible damage in a single night, and the owner of 
flocks and herds will sometimes find when he visits his cattle in the morning that many 
of them have grievously suffered from the inroads of these hungry animals. 
The Hunting-Dogs are always very cautious in their approach when they are dealing 
with oxen, horses, or other powerful animals; but when they choose to make an 
onslaught upon a flock of sheep they use no precaution, and rush boldly to the 
hazardless enterprise. They are peculiarly addicted to biting off the tails of oxen, 
and causing thereby no small present suffering, and very ereat future inconvenience, 
for the climate of Southern Africa is so admirably adapted to the production and 
nourishment of certain predaceous flies, that a poor ox which has been deprived of his 
tail is in very bad case indeed, and suffers greatly from the gnats and other winged foes 
which congregate in clouds around any animal which is at all pervious to their ‘attacks, 
As the Hunting- Dog is not very careful in using his teeth, and always takes as much as 
possible of his victim’s tail, he sometimes makes such rude onslaughts that he inflicts 
mortal damage on his prey, especially on the colts and the calves. 
When brought under human control, it is rather apt to retain its native ferocity, and 
to reject the companionship of mankind. Yet it has been known to enter into friendship 
with other animals, such as the hyena and the lon, and was not more quarrelsome than 
is ordinarily the case among predaceous animals of different species. The experiment 
of its domestication has not as yet been fairly tried ; and in all probability the creature 
will yield to the influence of man without any difficulty, whenever it may be subjected 
to the authority of a competent teacher. The innate tre achery of its disposition may 
be traced to the suspicious wariness which is always found in those predaceous animals 
which are strong enough to obtain their food by the destruction of animal life, and 
which are not sufficie ntly powerful to feel themselves secure from the attacks of other 
animals which are larger or stronger than themselves. 
