THE JACKALL, HYJENA. '25 



THE JACKALL. 



THIS animal has obtained the appellation of the lion's 

 provider, merely because it pursues its game by the scent 

 of which the lion avails himself, and joins in the chase. 

 It is about the size of the fox, and seems an intermediate 

 line of separation between the dog and. the wolf-kind. Its 

 colour is a bright yellow, whence Linneeus has called it 

 the canis aureus. - 



The Jackall is common in Asia, in Barbary, and other 

 countries of Africa, as far south as the Cape of Good 

 Hope. Packs of forty or fifty will proceed to the chace, 

 uttering a loud noise ; and, thus united, they are a match 

 for the boldest inhabitants of the forest ; they will face the 

 strongest, and yet satisfy their appetite on the meanest 

 animals. They seem to have no great apprehensions even 

 of man himself, and will pursue their game to his very 

 dwellings. 



These animals, being gregarious, always assist each other 

 on their predaceous excursions, whether of the chase or of 

 exhumation ; for the dead and the living are equally liable 

 to their attacks. By day, they lurk in separate holes ; but 

 at the approach of night, they collect their numbers, and 

 rush out to kill and to destroy. 



As Jackalls unite in great troops to hunt down their 

 prey, they drive all the timid animals before them by their 

 hideous yellings. The lion follows after them, and satisfies 

 his appetite with their prey, leaving them only the mangled 

 remains. From this circumstance the Jackall has been 

 popularly termed the lion's provider. When pressed 

 with hunger, it will enter towns, devouring every animal 

 substance it can find, attacking flocks, and occasionally 

 man himself. There is great reason to suppose that this 

 animal is the real stock of the dog. Its propensities and 

 habits are very similar. It is capable of being easily tamed 

 when taken young, and attaches itself to man, distinguishes 

 its master, answers to its name, and shows an attachment 

 to dogs. This latter circumstance is very peculiar, as the 

 wolf and fox, who are thought to resemble the dog so 

 nearly, are at the same time his determined enemies. 



