SPECIES AND VARIETIES. 651 



tries of the Turcomans. Crossing the Indus, he is found 

 over all Hindostan to the regions beyond the Ganges. He 

 appears in China Proper, and stretches northward into the 

 countries of the Kalmuks ; and he is found in Borneo and 

 other great islands of the Eastern Seas. Thus the Jackal, 

 of whatever species or varieties, occupies a great part of 

 the habitable world. His temperament, indeed, seems best 

 suited to the warmer and less humid countries, where he 

 multiplies in the greatest degree ; although, extending north- 

 wards into the deserts of the Turcomans and Kalmuks, it, 

 seems that he is fitted to endure a considerable degree of cold. 

 This curious dog approaches in certain of his characters 

 and habits to the fox, and may be regarded as intermediate 

 between foxes and the diurnal dogs. But he is longer in 

 the limbs than the fox, has a shorter fur and less bushy 

 tail, and has the pupil of the eye circular, whereas in the fox 

 it is elongated. He burrows like the fox, but is nothing like 

 so solitary and nocturnal in his habits. On the contrary, he 

 is eminently gregarious and social ; and although, as in the 

 case of other wild animals of prey, the night is the time 

 which he takes to seek his food, he does not fear to issue 

 from his retreat at any time. He is of all the wild Canidse 

 the most familiar with man, congregating around his dwel- 

 lings, that he may share or purloin his food. Like all the 

 Ferae in a state of nature, he is voracious, hunting during all 

 the night, entering the hamlets and villages, and, like the 

 hysenas, carrying off the garbage and offal which he finds ; 

 nay, it is said, digging into the sepulchres, and violating the 

 remains of the dead. He has the cunning habits of the fox, 

 with far greater audacity. He examines the fastenings of 

 doors and windows, that he may enter into yards, outhouses, 

 and unguarded dwellings, stealing whatever he can reach, 

 as skins, and any edible substance ; and, entering the hen- 

 roosts, he kills every animal. Like the fox, too, he feeds on 

 certain ripe fruits, and, lurking in the vineyards, fattens upon 

 the grapes. The cry of the Jackal is peculiar and distinguish- 



