THE JACKAL 179 



any odor except when warm from rapid hunting; 

 but it is likely, in view of its presumed origin, that 

 in the beginning the dog was not precisely a bou- 

 quet of roses beside its master. Doubtless it was 

 denied access to the hut, which it would have infected 

 with its odor, and was relegated to a distant spot 

 outside in the open air. 



" Those are not all the jackal's defects. It is true 

 the animal is easily tamed, but without acquiring the 

 docility and attachment of the dog. When pressed 

 by hunger, it is gentle and caressing toward the mas- 

 ter who gives it something to eat ; when satiated, it 

 shows its teeth and tries to bite if any one reaches 

 out to take hold of it. Children, whom dogs so love 

 to play with, do not gain its confidence any more 

 than grown people. Whoever should try to pull its 

 tail in play would certainly get bitten. " 



"Our Medor has a much better disposition, " said 

 Emile ; * ' the more pranks I play with him, the better 

 he likes it. I M a good deal rather play with him 

 than with a stinking jackal. " 



"Medor owes his excellent qualities, particularly 

 his honest, dogged patience, to the extraordinary 

 pains taken during long centuries to improve his 

 breed; but certainly the primitive dog must have 

 been a pretty rough playmate for little boys. He 

 did not allow any one to pull his mustache, did not 

 give the paw, did not play dead with four legs in the 

 air, did not wait for the command to jump and snap 

 the crust of bread placed on the tip of his nose. 

 The jackal, docile only when hungry, shows you 



