THE JACKAL. 243 



turally a howl) are dreadful ; and when they are 

 hear, these are so horribly loud, that persons can 

 with difficulty hear each other speak. Dillon says, 

 their voice is like the cries of many children of dif- 

 ferent ages mixed together : when one comtnences, 

 the whole pack immediately afterward join in the 

 howl. In the day-time they are silent. All the 

 beasts of the forest are roused by the cries of the 

 Jackal ; and the Lion and other beasts of prey, by 

 a kind of instinct, attend to it as a signal for the 

 chace, and seize such timid animals as fly from the 

 noise. From this circumstance it is that the Jackal 

 has obtained the title of the Lion's Provider. — 

 Jackals burrow in the earth ; and leave their habi- 

 tations during the night only, to range for prey^ 

 The females breed once a-year, and produce from 

 six to eight young at a birth *. 



Such is, pretty nearly, the account of Mr. Pen- 

 nant : that of the Comte de Buffon is different. 

 The latter says, that these are stupid and voracious 

 animals, and very difficult to be tamed ; and that 

 with one kept nearly a-year, neither caresses nor food 

 would soften its disposition, though taken young 

 and reared with the utmost care. It would allow 

 no one to touch it, and attempted to bite all per- 

 sons indiscrimirxately. When suffered to be at li- 

 berty, nothing could prevent it from leaping on 

 the tables, and carrying off every eatable it could 

 lay hold of. — This writer also informs us, that when- 

 ever this animal meets with travellers, it stops to 



* Penii. Quad. i. 244. 

 R3 



