THE JACKAL 207 



The jackal in the wild state is often a de- 

 graded animal, subsisting upon the refuse in search 

 of which he is a nightly intruder into villages and 

 small towns, consorting, at a respectful distance, 

 with hyenas and, after a kill and at a still more 

 respectful distance, with even the greater flesh- 

 eaters themselves. When thrown in the wilds 

 upon their own resources, jackals prey largely upon 

 game birds, their eggs and young, insects, in- 

 cluding locusts, of which they are extremely fond, 

 and all sorts of small and immature animals. To 

 persons possessed of a hen-roost, they are a serious 

 nuisance, fowls and eggs disappearing in a manner 

 as mysterious as exasperating. If they should be 

 caught inside the poultry -run or hen-house, jackals 

 turn very nasty, and one of my servants at Blan- 

 tyre, years ago, sustained a most unpleasant bite 

 from one of these animals. They are, of coxirse, 

 noctvirnal, and soon after sunset their curious, 

 plaintive cry of " bw^-bw6 " can be heard on all 

 sides as they issue forth from their lairs. 



The old-fashioned story of the jackal being 

 found in constant attendance upon the lion is 

 certainly not borne out by the observations of 

 latter-day hunters and observers, who have found 

 the best of reasons for believing that in lean times 

 both the lion and the leopard are by no means 

 averse from a meal of jackal meat should no other 

 and more desirable means of sustenance present 

 itself. It is, of course, painful to be compelled 

 to remove illusions hallowed by the bright halo 

 of many years of firm belief, but it is a duty which 

 often presents itself in describing Africa, and many 



