ii4 THE WILDERNESS AND JUNGLE 



As a matter of fact, experienced sportsmen 

 are able to tell at once whether their spaniels 

 or pointers are barking at dangerous game, 

 such as tiger or leopard, or at monkeys, deer, 

 or jungle fowl. The note in the case of the 

 former is much sharper and more suggestive of 

 mingled excitement and fierceness. It is not 

 therefore surprising that a similar difference of 

 note should be remarked in a wild cousin of 

 the dog like the jackal. 



Time was when the jackal was regarded 

 as the provider of the meal for lions, tigers, 

 and other royal patrons, but we know now 

 that he follows instead of showing the way. 

 With reference to what was said above of 

 the manner in which the jackal is supposed 

 to warn the weak creatures of the wilderness, I 

 am aware that cattle-birds may, from one point 

 of view, be regarded as betraying to the hunter 

 the whereabouts of hidden buffalo; but it must 

 be remembered that they likewise warn the 

 buffalo of the presence of the hunter, and that, 

 after all, is their natural purpose. 



The tiger is a fine swimmer and always 

 keeps in the neighbourhood of water. The 

 leopard, on the other hand, is not a very 

 thirsty animal and, being but a poor swimmer, 

 rarely, even when pursued, takes to deep or 

 swift water. In Northern India tigers are 

 mostly shot from the back of an elephant, as 



