NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



the health of flesh-eating animals. When a regular 

 and abundant supply of flesh food is forthcoming, 

 with but little physical effort, carnivorous animals 

 grow mangy and otherwise diseased, for the reason 

 that the toxic substances generated in the body 

 by a flesh diet are not eliminated. 



Those of the human race who eat largely of flesh 

 food, and who do not do heavy manual labour, 

 bring ill-health in various forms upon themselves, 

 in the same way as do the carnivorous animals. 

 With the wild dogs it is always a feast or a famine. 

 The stomach may be loaded to its utmost capacity 

 at times, but it goes for days at a time empty. 

 Many of the human race load their stomachs every 

 day of the year and yet expect to remain in a con- 

 dition of health. 



All observers who have come in contact much 

 with these wild dogs are unanimous in their state- 

 ments that they tear up and devour their prey in 

 the most expeditious way, biting out great mouth- 

 fuls of flesh and bolting it whole. A pack of a 

 dozen of these hounds will eat up a large antelope 

 within fifteen minutes. The larger animals are 

 usually attacked just below the tail, the endeavour 

 being to tear out the bowels and thus completely 

 cripple the hunted creature. 



In those parts where wild dogs have not from 

 experience been taught to dread man and his fire- 

 arms, they do not show any great fear of his kind, 

 for when molested they usually slowly and sullenly 

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