WITH FLASH-LIGHT AND RIFLE 



is scarce, do not hesitate to turn on them and eat 

 them. 



The jackal's sense of scent is exceedingly keen. I 

 had often but just baited my traps with carrion when 

 one or more jackals made their appearance, joined later 

 by their friends the hyenas. 



The hyenas and jackals are the undertakers and 

 grave-diggers of the steppe, burying, in almost no time, 

 even the most gigantic mammals in their stomachs. 

 How transitory, for instance, is the existence of an 

 elephant. Yesterday the animal was alive and full of 

 strength; to-day it Hes dead, killed by a single shot. 

 Soon the tropical heat would start the quick process 

 of decay; but before nature can do its work, the 

 hyenas and jackals attack the bulky body. When 

 they have devoured all they can, or care to, hundreds 

 of vultures, which have been abiding their time in the 

 near-by trees, feast on the leavings, so that shortly 

 nothing is left but the skeleton and the skin. The 

 next rain accelerates the decomposition of the hide, 

 which is then completely devoured by the hyenas 

 and jackals. Nothing is left but the bones, scattered 

 about on the ground. A series of steppe - fires and 

 the constant glow of the tropical sun soon reduce to 

 ashes the bones, except the mighty skull, which will 

 resist the ravages of time for many years. Though 

 lifeless itself, it harbors hfe; in its cavities birds build 

 their nests or mice make their homes. But finally the 



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