THE JACKAL 155 



continental railway lines in the hope of picking up the 

 waste scraps thrown from the dining cars. 



JACKAL (Canis aureus). 

 Coloured Plate VII. Fig. 4. 



The Jackal rather exceeds a large fox in size, though its 

 tail is not so long proportionately, nor so bushy as in the 

 latter animal. It is an inhabitant of the Old World, the 

 common species being found in the South-east of Asia and 

 onwards to India and Ceylon, and practically the same 

 animal ranges through Egypt and Abyssinia. Several other 

 species extend throughout Central and South Africa from 

 Nubia to the Cape. 



The common Jackal of India shows considerable variation 

 in colour, but as often as not it is mottled black, grey, and 

 brown on the back, with the under fur brownish yellow ; 

 the limbs are more or less foxy red, with the tail a darker 

 shade. The name aureus is derived from the yellowish 

 tinge of the fur. 



The Jackal only measures from two to two and a half 

 feet without the tail ; the ears are pointed ; the pupils of 

 the eyes are round, and the skin exhales a strong and 

 offensive odour. It hunts in troops or packs, pursuing the 

 antelope and other animals for its prey, as well as rendering 

 useful service in clearing the country and suburbs of towns 

 and villages of carrion in every stage of putrefaction. The 

 animal has been called the ' lion's provider/ and is popularly 

 supposed to hunt down the quarry for the royal beast. It 

 is far more likely that when the cry of the Jackal is heard 

 the lion makes its appearance, and seizes without any 

 ceremony upon the booty, leaving the Jackals to clear up 

 the remains of the repast. 



Most travellers agree in the terrific effect which the cry, 

 or rather shriek, of the animal produces, resounding during 

 the stilly darkness of the night from a hundred throats. 



In many cases the fox of the sacred writers more properly 

 refers to the Jackal, especially where mention is made of 

 feeding upon carrion. The fox is not a carrion-eater by 



