NATURAL HISTORY. 



Aurgus (Lat. golden), the Jackal. 



This animal is found in North Africa, Persia, and India. 

 It derives its name " aureus" from the yellow tint of its skin. 

 It, like the wolf, unites in bands to hunt, and the prey which 

 the pack has taken so much pains to secure is not ^infrequently 

 confiscated by the lion, who keeps the reluctant hunters at a 

 distance until he has satisfied his own royal appetite. The 

 Jackals, however, often retaliate by assisting at the demolition 

 of the larger prey which the lion destroys. It is very useful in 

 the East, as it acts as scavenger, and consumes the ofTal which, 

 in those not very cleanly towns, is cast into the streets, and 

 would inevitably cause a pestilence, were it not for the assist- 

 ance of the jackals and other creatures. 



It is excessively fond of grapes, and makes dreadful havoc in 

 the vineyards, so that the fable of the Fox and the Grapes 

 might be quite as appropriately related of this animal. While 

 hunting, it utters most piercing shrieks, which have been com- 

 pared by those who have heard them to the wailing of evil 

 spirits, an association which the oriental tombs and ruins which 

 it frequents, recalling to mind the mysterious Arabian Nights, 

 are most fitted to produce. 



There are several kinds of Jackals, one inhabiting Senegal, 

 and another the Cape of Good Hope. They are rather larger 

 than the fox, but do not possess nearly so bushy a tail as that 

 " brush," wherein sportsmen take so much delight. 



