342 THE HUNTING-DOG. 



with long bushy hair, which is for the greater part of a grayish-white hue, but is strongly 

 tinged with black near its insertion. In nearly all specimens there is a whitish patch 

 below each eye. These tints are somewhat variable in different individuals, but preserve 

 the same general aspect in all. 



There are many names by which this animal has been called ; in the writings of some 

 authors it is mentioned under the title of the Painted Hyena, while by others it is 

 termed the Hyena-Dog. The Dutch colonists of the Cape of Good Hope, where this 

 creature is generally found, speak of it by the name of Wilde Hund, or Wild Dog ; 

 and it is also known under the names of Simir and Melbia. 



Its title of Hunting-Dog is earned by its habit of pursuing game by fair chase, and 

 uniting in packs of considerable numbers for that purpose. As is the case with the 

 generality of predaceous animals, it prefers the night for its season of attack, but will 

 frequently undertake a chase in broad daylight. For the purpose of the chase it 

 is well fitted, as it is gifted with long and agile limbs and with great endurance of 

 fatigue. 



The excellent nose and admirable hunting powers of the Hunting-Dog are really 

 worthy of notice, when the performance of a pack of " Wilde-honden " is compared with 

 those of a pack of foxhounds. How frequently the fox escapes from its pursuers is 

 familiar to all who have paid the very least attention to the subject of field sports ; yet 

 we find that a pack of Hunting-Dogs will very seldom permit their prey to escape them, 

 even though they are unassisted by the efforts of human allies. 



A successful and practical sportsman, who has witnessed the performances of fox- 

 hounds and Hunting-Dogs, is inclined to give the palm to the latter animals, for their 

 almost invariable success in the chase. He suggests that to the ample nostrils and 

 the wide forehead of the Hunting-Dog must be attributed much of the keen scent and 

 the apt intelligence that renders these animals so successful in their united efforts. He 

 also offers a further suggestion, that it appears as though freedom were a necessary 

 adjunct to the hunting spirit, for we cannot train any animal to hunt with half the 

 real zest which the same creature exhibits in its native or wild state. 



This animal is not unfrequently found to prefer the easy task of attacking a sheepfold 

 or a cattle-pen to the more laborious though more legitimate pursuit of prey in the 

 open country. In such a case, it does terrible damage in a single night, and the owner 

 of flocks and herds will sometimes find when he visits his cattle in the morning that 

 many of them have grievously suffered from the inroads of these hungry animals. 



The Hunting-Dogs are always very cautious in their approach when they are dealing 

 with oxen, horses, or other powerful animals ; but when they choose to make an 

 onslaught upon a flock of sheep they use no precaution, and rush boldly to the 

 hazardless enterprise. They are peculiarly addicted to biting off the tails of oxen, 

 and causing thereby no small present suffering, and very great future inconvenience, 

 for the climate of Southern Africa is so admirably adapted to the production and 

 nourishment of certain predaceous flies, that a poor ox which has been deprived of his 

 tail is in very bad case indeed, and suffers greatly from the gnats and other winged foes 

 which congregate in clouds around any animal which is at all pervious to their attacks. 

 As the Hunting-Dog is not very careful in using his teeth, and always takes as much as 

 possible of his victim's tail, he sometimes makes such rude onslaughts that he inflicts 

 mortal damage on his prey, especially on the colts and the calves. 



When brought under human control, it is rather apt to retain its native ferocity, and 

 to reject the companionship of mankind. Yet it has been known to enter into friendship 

 with other animals, such as the hyena and the lion, and was not more quarrelsome than 

 is ordinarily the case among predaceous animals of different species. The experiment 

 of its domestication has not as yet been fairly tried ; and in all probability the creature 

 will yield to the influence of man without any difficulty, whenever it may be subjected 

 to the authority of a competent teacher. The innate treachery of its disposition may 

 be traced to the suspicious wariness which is always found in those predaceous animals 

 which are strong enough to obtain their food by the destruction of animal life, and 

 which are not sufficiently powerful to feel themselves secure from the attacks of other 

 animals which are larger or stronger than themselves. 



