THE JACKAL 



509 



The Black- 

 Backed 

 Jackal 



The black-backed jackal (Cants mesomelas}, is a very distinct Afri- 

 can species. The adults of both sexes are characterized by their 

 bright coloration, the sides of the body being red, the limbs and the 

 upper part of the tail reddish yellow; while the back of the body and 

 the end of the tail are black. In some cases the line of division between the black 

 of the back and the red of the sides is more distinct than in others, and the size of 

 the black area is also subject to variation, although invariably widest over the 

 shoulders. The individual hairs of the body are ringed with black and white or red 



ss 



BLACK-BACKED JACKAL. 

 (One-seventh natural size. ) 



and white, so as to produce a speckled appearance in the fur. The under parts of 

 the body and the inner sides of the limbs are nearly white, the ears and part of the 

 face being yellowish brown. This striking coloration occurs, however, only in the 

 adult condition, the fur of the young being a uniform dusky brown. The dark 

 band on the neck so often found in the common jackal is absent. The ears are 

 very long. 



The black-backed jackal was obtained by Mr. Blanford in Abyssinia, but not 

 at such high elevations as the common species. The northerly limit of this jackal is 

 Middle Nubia, from whence its range extends along the east coast of Africa to the 



