JACKALS. 



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the north of the Sahara. In the Himalaya it ascends to from three to four 

 thousand feet above the sea-level. Throughout India it may be found indifferently 

 in hilly or plain country, in forest or open districts, or in large cities. 



Although jackals are frequently in the habit of going singly or in pairs, tliey 

 often associate in packs, which may be of considerable size; these assemblages 

 being more frequent at night than during the daj'time. In India the jackal is 

 considered by ilr. Blanford to be a more decidedly nocturnal animal than the wolf, 

 but its wanderings are bj' no means confined to the night ; and, during the 

 winter, jackals may be seen abroad at all hours of the day. In extremely 



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THE JACKAL (J nat. size). 



hot weather they appear to suffer much, and may be found either lying in the 

 water, where thej^ spend mo.st of the day, or sneaking awa}' therefrom, instead 

 of being, as u.sual, hidden away in their holes. Their food comprises not only 

 carrion and the flesh of such animals as they are able to kill, but also fruit, maize, 

 and sugar-cane. In the towns and villages of India the jackals act as efficient 

 scavengers. Occasionally they take to killing poultry and lambs or kids ; and 

 Jerdon states that weakly goats and sheep often become their prey, while wounded 

 antelopes are tracked down and killed. Among vegetable foods, the chief favourite 

 seems to be the so-called ber-fruit ; but Prof. Ball reports that in certain districts 

 jackals do enormous damage to the sugar plantations, biting ten or a dozen canes 



