58 ANIMALS OF THE 



so seldom has a sufficiency ; nor that it feeds on 

 putrid substances, since it is not permitted to 

 feast on what it has newly killed. Besides these 

 enemies, the jackall has another to cope with j 

 for between him and the dog there is an irrecon- 

 cileable antipathy, and they never part without 

 an engagement. The Indian peasants often chase 

 them as we do foxes ; and have learned, by ex- 

 perience, when they have got a lion or a tiger in 

 their rear. Upon such occasions they keep their 

 dogs close, as they would be no match for such 

 formidable animals, and endeavour to put them 

 to flight with their cries. When the lion is dis- 

 missed, they more easily cope with the jackall, 

 who is as stupid as it is impudent, and seems 

 much better fitted for pursuing than retreating. 

 It sometimes happens that one of them steals 

 silently into an out-house, to seize the poultry, 

 or devour the furniture, but hearing others in 

 full cry at a distance, without thought, it instant- 

 ly answers the call, and thus betrays its own de- 

 predations. The peasants sally out upon it, and 

 the foolish animal finds, too late, that its instinct 

 was too powerful for its safety. 



THE ISATIS. 



As the jackall is a sort of intermediate species 

 between the dog and the wolf,* so the Isatis may 



In this description I have followed M. Buffbn. 



