42 SOUTH AFRICAN MAMMALS 



colours being sharply divided by a black line. The 

 underparts are of a much paler tint than the sides. 

 The ears are of large size and of a reddish colour 

 behind. 



The tail is bushy and has a conspicuous black tip ; 

 length about 13 to 14 inches. The length of the head 

 and body is about 3 to 3f feet. The animal is subject 

 to a good deal of colour variation, ranging from a pale 

 greyish fawn to a brilliant reddish chestnut, but this is 

 largely due to age, season, and possibly even to sex, as 

 I have never seen a female as brilliantly coloured as 

 some males we have possessed. The young pups are 

 of a drabbish brown colour, darker on the back and paler 

 below. 



It is fairly evenly distributed over the whole sub- 

 continent, and latterly " Jackal Clubs " have been 

 instituted, with the object of exterminating the animal. 

 It is especially common in the Transvaal Bushveld, 

 where its unearthly howl can be heard any night, the 

 creatures being bold enough at times to come fairly close 

 to the hunter's camp fire. The skins are much prized 

 for karosses. 



This animal is much execrated by the Cape farmers 

 on account of the destruction it causes amongst the 

 sheep flocks, especially at lambing time. 



Canis lateralis. Side-striped Jackal. Vaal Jakhals. 



This is a much more sombrely coloured animal than 

 the preceding, being of a silver or drabbish grey, darker 

 on the back. On each side of the body there is a diagonal 

 whitish stripe bordered on the lower edge by a black 

 stripe. The chin is pale brown ; throat and chest 

 reddish brown. The tip of the tail is white, which 



