186 



whereabouts it is, places his nose directly in a line, 

 with it, and begins to move toward it. He is silent 

 and slow, but constant in his approach ; often sf&p- 

 ping to hear or look forward, and knows exactly 

 wherethe creature is : when he is got within about 

 five feet, he stops. Nature, which has denied him 

 speed, has given him strength to leap, beyond most 

 other creatures. Having taken good ujm, he springs 

 from the place, and falls directly on his prey, Thus 

 he deals with beasts and birds. But to serpents ho 

 gives chacc, and to avoid their bite, always seizes them 

 by the neck* 



Gcsncr tells, that the Ichneumon is not only an 

 enemy to serpents themselves, but to their eggs also : 

 which he hunts after continually and dcstroys,though 

 he does not feed upon them. How mercifully has 

 God given this animal in the countries where those 

 terrible reptiles most abound ! And which, without 

 this provision, would be so over.run with thcm ; as to 

 be uninhabitable. 



The Jackal is of the carnivorous kind. They 

 hunt by scent and go in packs* They pursue with 

 patience, rather than swiftness, and excite each other 

 by a spirit of emulation. 



Jt goes for current that the Jackal discovers the 

 lion's prey ; that each of these retains one of them, 

 and having satisfied himself, lets his dependent feed on 

 the offals of his repast. 



But the truth is, there are great numbers of jack- 

 als in some woods, and when one of these sees a stag, 

 or other large beast, which is not a beast of prey, he 

 sets up his cry, which is like that of a hound and 

 follows it. As he continues his cry, the other Jack, 

 als that are within hearing follow likewise. And 

 could the creature outrun those that began the chace, 

 there is a continual supply ; so that it cannot escape. 

 When they have run it down, they worry it at once, 

 and it is devoured almost in an instant. After this 

 the jackals disperse, till another cry invites them. 



