THE FOX, OR JACKAL. 



95 



supply of human carrion to the ravenous hysenas. ' In my return, 

 through the desert,' says Mr. Bruce, * the whole country was strew- 

 ed with the hones of the dead. Horrid monuments of the victories 

 of this savage animal, and of mnn more cruel than he !' 



One circumstance is very remarkable in the nature of this animal, 

 and that is, his mortal aversion to dogs. No dog, however fierce, 

 can be prevailed upon to engage the hyasna. This aversion and 

 mutual antipathy was proverbial in very ancient times, for the au- 

 thor of Ecclesiasticus asks, ' What agreement is there between the 

 hyaena and the dog ? ' Chap. xiii. 18. 



THE FOX, OR JACKAL. 



IT is somewhat doubtful, whether the fox of scripture be the 

 common fox, or the jackal the little eastern fox, as Hasselquist 

 calls him. 



The jackal, or Thaleb, as it is called in Arabia and Egypt, is 

 said to be of the size of a middling dog, resembling the fox in the 

 hinder parts, particularly the tail ; and the wolf in the fore parts, 

 especially the nose. Its legs are shorter than those of the fox, and 

 its color is of a bright yellow ; or in the warmest climates rather of 

 a reddish brown. 



Although this species of the wolf approaches very near to that of 

 the dog, yet the jackal seems to be placed between them ; to the 

 savage fierceness of the wolf, it adds the impudent familiarity of 

 the dog. Its cry is a howl, mixed with barking, and a lamentation 

 resembling that of human distress. It is more noisy in its pursuits 



