190 THE IMAGE OF WAE 



Ceylon, which I propose to include in my chapter, 

 there are no foxes. To the superficial observer the 

 above-named two sorts of foxes appear almost similar. 

 Both are very small, their bodies being about the size 

 of a large English rabbit. Both are light-grey in 

 colour, with large ears and fine bushy ''brushes," 

 that of the desert variety having a large white " tag." 

 Both are exceedingly swift. There are two reasons 

 why they are unsuitable for hunting. In the first 

 place, although they do not quite imitate the un- 

 sportsmanlike precedent of the Indian hare in pop- 

 ping into the very first hole they come to, they are 

 rarely found far from their own earths or those of 

 their brethren, into which they soon disappear. The 

 second reason is, however, still worse. Whatever the 

 reason, Indian foxes leave absolutely no scent. I 

 have seen fox-hounds find one in a tiny covert, and 

 get away right on his brush, only to lose him directly 

 a swell of ground hid him from view. I may say that 

 when one handles them there is no foxy odour per- 

 ceptible. Still, remembering what a tremendous 

 scent the red-deer and other " sweet-scented beasts 

 of chace" leave, one hesitates to accept this as 

 the reason. 



The jackal has neither of these disadvantages. At 

 least he does not go to ground nearly as often as 

 an English fox, and the scent he leaves is as good 

 as climatic conditions and the nature of the ground 

 will admit. So well known an animal requires little 

 description. Suffice it to say that he is rather larger 

 than a fox, with much longer legs, and a much 

 shorter brush. In colour he is a yellowish-grey, the 

 fur in winter being exceedingly beautiful. I have 

 killed them with hair five inches long about the 



