HUNTING-DOG. 569 



The fennec is confined to Northern Africa, ranging from Nubia to Algiei-s, 

 and occurring over the whole of the Sahara Desert. It is essentially a desert 

 animal, with the sands of which its pale coloration is in complete harmony ; and it 

 is likewise mainly nocturnal in its habits. Like the common fox, the fennec makes 

 a burrow, which is generally situated in the neighbourhood of the tufts of low 

 plants growing here and there in the desert ; tliese plants rendering the soil more 

 coherent, and therefore easier to burrow in. The inside of the burrow is lined 

 with feathers, hair, and soft vegetable substances, and is remarkalile for its cleanli- 

 ness. The burrows are made with wonderful rajiidity — so quickly, indeed, that 

 the animal seems to sink into the ground as though it were diving into water ; and 

 when hunted the creature generally manages to escape by thus burrowino-. 

 During the day the fennec reposes in its burrow, with its head curled up beneath 

 the bushy tail, and only the ears exposed. At the slightest sound or movement it 

 is, however, on the alei-t ; and, when thus disturbed, it utters a slight whimper, and 

 soon endeavoui-s to dispose itself again to slumber. At sunset the fennec leaves 

 its burrow and makes for its drinking-place, but instead of going straight across 

 the sand dunes, it always seeks the protection of such ravines and hollows as there 

 may be. Around the drinking-places the moist earth is covered with countless 

 impressions of its feet. After having satisfied its tiiirst, the fennec sets about 

 seeking its food, which may be either jerboas, small birds, lizards, insects, or 

 fruit. 



The burrows are generally made near together, so that tlie fennecs live in 

 small colonies or companies. According to native reports, the young are born in 

 March, the number in a litter being either three or four. 



The Cape Hunting-Dog {Lyca.on pictiis). 



With the fennec we took leave of the last member of the familj' which can be 

 included in tlie typical genus Canis, and we now come to the first of three species 

 which represent as many distinct genera. The curious-looking animal depicted in 

 the illustration on the next page, and commonly known as the Cape hunting-dog, 

 differs from other members of the family in having but four toes to each foot, and 

 also in its peculiar irregularly-spotted coloration. The number of the teeth is the 

 same as in the wolf ; and the skull has also a considerable resemblance to that of 

 the latter, although shorter and broader ; while the form of the cheek-teeth is 

 likewise rather difierent. In point of size the hunting-dog niay be compared with 

 a tall greyhound. Its limbs are relatively long ; the head is broad and flat, with 

 a somewhat short muzzle, and I'ather large ears. The fur is rather thin ; and is 

 coloured with a mixture of black, yellowish ochre, grey, and white, the disposition 

 of the colours vaiying greatly in difierent individuals, and the patches or blotches 

 being generally arranged unsjnnmetrically on the two sides of the body. Professor 

 Mivart describes the usual coloration as follows : — " The general ground-colour is 

 an ochraceous grey, but with black markings, so that the bodj^ and outer sides of 

 the extremities are blotched and brindled with black, intermingled here and there 

 with white spots edged with black ; the markings being very irregular. The 

 muzzle is black, and a black stripe sometimes, but not always, passes backwards 



