HABITS OF THE WILD DOG. 151 



Having summoned my men, and with consiberable 

 difficulty dragged the ponderous carcass of the old bull 



invariably hunt together in large organized packs, varying in number 

 from ten to sixty, and by their extraordinary powers of endurance, and 

 mode of mutual assistance, they are enabled to run into the swii'test, or 

 overcome the largest and most powerful antelope. I have never heard 

 of their attacking the buffalo, and I believe that the animal pursued iu 

 the present instance is the largest to which they give battle. Their 

 pace is a long, never-tiring galloj), and in the chaso they relieve one 

 another, the leading hounds falling to the rear when fatigued, when 

 others, who have been husbanding their strength, come up and relieve 

 them. Having succeeded in bringing their quarry to bay, they all sur- 

 round him, and he is immediately dragged to the ground, and in a few 

 minutes torn to pieces and consumed. They are of a bold and daring dis- 

 position, and do not entertain much fear of man, evincing less concern 

 on his approach than any other carnivorous animal with which T am ac- 

 quainted. On disturbing a pack, they trot leisurely along before the 

 intruder, repeatedly halting and looking back at him. The females 

 bring forth their young in large holes, in desolate open plains. These 

 burrows are connected with one another under ground. When a ti-oop 

 of wild dogs frequenting these holes observe a man approaching, they 

 do not, as might be supposed, take shelter in the holes, but, rather 

 trusting to their speed, they rush forth, even though the intrader should 

 be close upon them, and retreat across the plain, the young ones, unless 

 very weak, accompanying them. The devastation occasioned by them 

 among the flocks of the pastoral Dutch Boers is inconceivable. It con- 

 stantly happens, that when the careless shepherds leave their charge in 

 quest of honey or other amusement, a pack of these marauders comes 

 across the defenseless flock. A sanguinary massaci-e in such cases iti 

 variably ensues, and incredible numbers of sheep are killed and wound- 

 ed. The voracious pack, not content with killing as many as they can 

 eat, follow resolutely on, tearing and mangling all that come within 

 their reach. Their voice consists of three different kinds of cry, each 

 being used on special occasions. One of these cries is a sharp, angry 

 bark, usually uttered when they suddenly behold an object which they 

 can not make out. Another resembles a number of monkeys chattering 

 together, or men conversing while their teeth are chattering violently 

 from cold. This ciy is emitted at night when large numbers of them 

 ai'c ti)gether, and they are excited by any particular occurrence, such 

 as being barked at by domestic dogs. The third cry, and the one most 

 commonly uttered by them, is a sort of i-allying note to bring the vari- 

 ous members of the pack together when they have been scattered in 

 following several individuals of a troop of antelopes. It is u peculiarly 

 Boft, melodious ciy, yet, nevertheless, it may be distinguished at a great 



