32 POX. 



burning plains of Egypt and Arabia, they follow the cara- 

 vans, for the purpose of feeding on whatever is left behind. 

 The lion and the panther oftentimes lurk in the rear of 

 the Jackals, and as often rob them of at least part of their 

 prey : hence appears to have arisen the erroneous notion 

 of the Jackal being the lion's provider. These animals 

 live in burrows, which they dig under the surface of the 

 ground ; and from which they seldom issue, except during 

 the stillness of night. Their howling when in pursuit 

 of prey, is said to be dreadful. If caught young, they 

 may be rendered perfectly tame and domestic. Like 

 a dog, they distinguish their master from every other 

 person, eat out of his hand, and love to be fondled and 

 patted. 



In many respects the Jackal has a great resemblance to 

 the fox. The head, however, is shorter, the nose more 

 blunt, and the legs are longer. The tail is thickest in the 

 middle, tapers to a point, and is tipped with black. The 

 hair is long, and of a tawny or brownish colour, lighter 

 on the under than the upper parts of the body. 



Fox. On his address and cunning, rather than his 

 strength or agility, the Fox depends for his subsistence. 

 He lives, indiscriminately, on quadrupeds, fowls, fish, 

 insects, and vegetables : scarcely anything eatable comes 

 amiss to him. He leaves his den, and prowls abroad in 

 search of prey, from the twilight of evening until the 

 dawn of morning. His dexterity in seizing and securing 

 his prey is such, as, in all ages, to have rendered his 

 cunning proverbial. His ravages among poultry are 

 too well known in almost every village. He kills many 

 at a time, carrying them off, one by one, and hiding 

 them in the ground, for his future subsistence. In fine 

 weather these animals will oftentimes quit their habita- 



