THE HUNTING-DOG 115 



the East ; but at the time of writing this there were some fine specimens 

 in the London Zoological Gardens, though they have since died. 



THE HUNTING-DOG 



(Lycaon pittus) 



THIS African animal is one of the most remarkable of the Dog family, 

 resembling as it does the Hyaenas in having four toes on all feet 

 other dogs having five on the fore-foot and also in the form and colour 

 of the face and ears. It is, however, a true Dog in all essential points. 

 In size it about equals a Hound, but is remarkably thin and leggy; 

 its coat is close on the body, and the brush short and meagre. The 

 colour is most remarkable, being a sort of mottled tortoiseshell, disposed 

 irregularly in a manner quite unique among wild animals, the two 

 sides, even, of the same animal not matching. There is a little white 

 intermixed, and the end of the brush is always of this colour, while the 

 mask is black. In addition to individual variation in the colours and 

 their arrangement, there is some difference between local races in this 

 respect, but the animal is in any case quite unlike any other beast. 



It is widely spread over Africa in open dry country in the main 

 haunts of game, in fact and is as deadly a foe to the Antelopes as 

 the Dhole is to Deer in India. It has also the same method of attack, 

 and the same fearlessness of man, which is curious, as it is not more 

 nearly related to the Dhole than to any other canine. The Hunting- 

 Dog, however, runs in much larger packs than Dholes do, and is a 

 remarkably swift animal, rapidly overhauling even large Antelopes 

 by sheer speed. It frequently attacks cattle and sheep, and commits 

 terrible havoc amongst them. 



Unlike the Dhole, it is rather given to using its voice ; it has a bark 

 of defiance, and a rally ing-note, described as beautifully melodious. 



Even the Lion is said to fear this animal, and to be scared by an 

 imitation of its cry a curious parallel to the relations of the Dhole 

 with the Tiger. That it does not spare its fellow<arnivores is shown 



