72 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



advantage of the labours of others, and rarely excavating an earth on 

 its own account. One important point deserves mention in con- 

 nection with the homestead, and that is the burrow has a sort of 

 emergency exit in case of necessity. 



The Black-Backed Jackal is not only an inhabitant of South 

 Africa, but is found as far north as Abyssinia. The note is 

 described as a wailing laugh, and has been likened to "wa-ah-wah, 

 wah, wah." That the beast does well in captivity is shown by the 

 specimen illustrated, the same being a tenant of the London Zoo. 



CAPE HUNTING DOG. So far as the scientific classification 

 of animals goes, we have for the time being left in the rear the 

 Wolves, Jackals and other members of the Dog tribe, and have 

 reached an animal which is not included among them and which 

 has been assigned to a different genus. Although Wolf-like in parts, 

 the Cape Hunting Dog is a more lanky beast, it has four toes on 

 each foot, instead of five on the fore-feet, and is characterized by 

 being spotted in an irregular way. 



Fig. 59 shows the broad, flat head ; somewhat large, raised ears ; 

 long limbs ; skimpy fur and prominent black mark on the forehead. 

 This latter, however, is not always present. The fur is variously 

 coloured, being a mixture of grey, white, yellowish and black, with 

 blotches or patches on each side of the body. 



This Wild Dog is an inhabitant of that part of Africa which is 

 situate "southwards and eastwards of the Sahara." One of the most 

 interesting points concerning it is the similarity which exists between 

 it and the Spotted Hyaena which inhabits the same country. The 

 resemblance, however, is merely superficial, and there is no close rela- 

 tionship between the two beasts. The resemblance is most noticeable 

 in those Dogs which have a more ochreous tint about them and in 

 which the dark parts are spotted. Naturally enough this curious 

 resemblance has given rise to much speculation among Zoologists, 

 but no definite conclusion has yet been reached as to exactly how 

 the Cape Hunting Dog gains anything by "mimicking " the Hyaena 

 in the manner referred to. 



It is, like the Hyaena, a prowler of the night for the most part, 

 but hunts in organized packs. When thus engaged, the movements 

 carried out are well worth noticing, extreme strategy and cleverness 

 being displayed, the animals possessing remarkable powers of 

 endurance and relieving one another in the chase in a very delightful 

 way. 



