23S VEBTEBRATA. 



tail reaching hardly to the heeL The colors sometimes vary ; the size is about two thirds that 

 of the woI£ 



It* habits arc gregarious; it hunt? in packs and is the pest of those countries where it is found. 

 In their huntings the jackals will frequently attack the larger quadrupeds, but the smaller animals 

 and the poultry are their most frequent prey. Their cry is very peculiar and piercing. Captain 

 B ohey notices it as having something rather appalling when heard for the first time at night; 

 and he remarks that as they usually come in packs, the first shriek which is uttered is always 

 the signal for a general chorus. "We hardly know," continues the captain, "a sound which 

 partake* less of harmony than that which is at present in question; and, indeed, the sudden burst 

 of the answering long^protracted scream, succeeding immediately to the opening note, is scarcely 

 . bs impressive than the roll of the thunder-clap immediately after a flash of lightning. The 

 effect of this music is very much increased when the first note is heard in the distance — a circum- 

 stance which often occurs — and the answering yell bursts out from several points at once, within 

 a few vards or feet of the place where the auditors are sleeping." These animals burrow in the 

 earth, and are said to devour the dead on the battle-field, and to scratch away the earth from the 

 shallow graves in order to feed on the corpses. Jackals are also noted for a very disagreeable 

 odor. The story of the jackal being the lion's provider, may have arisen from the notion that 

 the yell of the pack gives notice to the lion that prey is on foot, or from the jackal's being seen 

 to feed on the remnants of the lion's quarry. 



Some authors are of opiuion that the three hundred foxes between whose tails Samson is said 

 to have put fire-brands in order that they might set fire to the crops of the Philistines — Judges, xv. 

 4, 5 — were jackals. Many of the modern Oriental names for the last-mentioned animals — Chicai 

 of the Turks, Sciagal, Sciucra!, Sciachal, or Shacal of the Persians — come very near to the Hebrew 

 word "Shual." Hasselquist, speaking of " Canis aureus, the Jackcall, Chicai of the Turks," says: 

 "There are greater numbers of this species of fox to be met with than the former — Cants vulpea — 

 particularly near Jaffa, about Gaza, and in Galilee. I leave others to determine which of these 

 is the fox t<f Samson." 



Fossil Dogs and Wolves. — The fossil remains of dogs and wolves have been found in various 

 parts of Europe, and especially in the bone-caves of Great Britain. Gervais says, however, that 

 no bones known to be those of the dog have been discovered of a date anterior to the age of man, 

 and to that of the ox, horse, and other animals which came into existence with man. 



Genus FOX : Vulpes. — The fox agrees with the dog in dental formula and general osteological 

 character, and hence he has been classified with the genus Canis. But the lengthened and 

 sharp-pointed muzzle, the round head, the form of the pupil of the eye, — which is linear and 

 vertical by day, though it becomes nearly round in the darkness, — the long body, short limbs, 

 and elongated, thick, and bushy brush, constitute differences which separate the former from the 

 latter, and have led naturalists to place the fox in a distinct genus. 



The Common- Fox of Europe, V. vulgaris, although distinguished by some variations of color, 

 - generally of the same complexion as our American red fox. It is the most remarkable species, 

 and is that which has long figured in history. It is found in most parts of Europe, and in 

 and Africa. It is voracious, swift of foot, and of great strength for its size. Its prominent char- 

 acteristic, however, and that which has been noted in all ages and countries, is its cunning. M Aa 

 cunning as a fox" is a Baying in many languages. 



In the earliest fables, — those of Lokman the Arabian, from which Esop is supposed to have 

 borrowed, — the fox figures in the character of the flatterer, and from that day to this, "Reynard 

 the fox" has been the chief hero of the proverbialists of all countries. 



We have already had occasion to notice the intense interest with which the chase of the fox is 



i urded in England. This is the only sport there called "hunting," the pursuit of other animals 

 being expressed by various terms. The chase of the hare is "coursing;" of birds, "shooting," 

 Tin- nd fox, the only species in that country, is said to be superior to the common red fox in 

 America, in his capacity to sustain a long chase; and, living in a thickly settled country, he is 

 a more wily beast than hi* American brother. The following account of -the fox in England, 

 from the "London Sporting Magazine," will be read with intent : 



