THE CAPE HUNTING-DOG 



575 



irregular spots, while there is scarcely any white. This animal inhabits nearly the 

 whole of Africa to the southward and eastward of the Sahara. 



The most remarkable feature about the hunting-dog is its superficial resemblance 

 to the spotted hyaena of the same country ; this being most noticeable in those indi- 

 viduals in which the ochre color predominates, and the dark areas take the form of 

 spots. From this resemblance, which is merely superficial and indicates no sort of 

 affinity between the two animals, the hunting-dog is frequently termed the hyaena- 

 dog. To account satisfactorily for this resemblance is very difficult. It has been 



CAPE HUNTING-DOG. 



(One-tenth natural size.) 



suggested that it is a case of " mimicry " ; that is to say, the resemblance to the 

 hyaena is due to some advantage which the hunting-dog thereby gains. It is, how- 

 ever, very difficult to see what advantage a strong animal hunting in packs, like the 

 present species, can gain by being mistaken for a hyaena, as it is in every respect 

 fully qualified to take care of itself. If, however, we could suppose that the 

 hunting-dog was originally a solitary animal, which had subsequently become 

 gregarious, then perhaps the resemblance to the hyaena might have been an 

 advantage to it. 



