COUSIN JACK 191 



call the hounds off to a safe distance and wait : presently 

 there will be the slightest movement, an ear will cock 

 ever so little, and perhaps an eye be opened. If the 

 coast is clear, up springs the dead jackal and away 

 he goes. Is this catalepsy or shamming, paralysis or 

 cunning ? It is very difficult to say, but my own 

 opinion is that it is shamming brought to perfection, 

 and that in process of time it has become an advantage 

 to the race. The jackal is one of the weakest of the 

 beasts of prey in the jungle, and he has a hard 

 struggle for existence : his necessities and way of life 

 bring him often into the neighbourhood of larger, 

 stronger carnivora. The jackal is not particularly 

 good to eat, though there is a tribe in India that 

 catches and cooks him. I used to dread their 

 appearance, for the encampment of Brinjaris near a 

 covert almost invariably meant a long draw and 

 perhaps a blank day. At all events, if when attacked 

 by a stronger animal the jackal feigns death, he is 

 very likely to escape, especially as this generally 

 happens near a kill, and any beast of prey would 

 certainly prefer a chunk of antelope or ox to the 

 strong, ill-flavoured flesh of the jackal. Thus we can 

 see that to sham death might be a distinct advantage 

 to the jackal. Not only would he live, but he would 

 have the ultimate chance of coming in for his share 



