94 THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



almost everywhere South of the Zambesi, but as it is only in the 

 most unfrequented places that they are about in the day-time 

 it cannot be said that they are very often seen even in their 

 most common resorts. On account of the dreadful depredations 

 committed amongst all sorts of cattle by Wild Dogs, there is no 

 animal held in such utter detestation by the farmers and natives in 

 remote places in South Africa, and their attacks are carried on with 

 such cunning, activity, and ferocity, that it is seldom an oppor- 

 tunity of obtaining revenge occurs. If a pack, which sometimes may 

 number as many as 30, once enter a sheep kraal during the night, 

 they will never leave it (unless disturbed in the meantime) without 

 having slaughtered every living thing in it, and before the first 

 glimpse of dawn appears, will probably be 20 miles off. No antelope 

 is safe from assault, and Mr. Selous was on one occasion an eye 

 witness when a Wild Dog singly attacked a full-grown Sable 

 Antelope bull. Its audacity may not possibly be very much exag- 

 gerated when some persons go so far as to assert that the joint efforts 

 of a pack have been successful in overcoming the Lion. However, 

 whatever may be the case with other animals, although they do not 

 in unfrequented places appear to dread the sight of man, on winding 

 one they clear off very quickly. It has been alleged that the Hunt- 

 ing Dogs are in the habit of excavating burrows, but this is extremely 

 doubtful. It is well known, however, that the premises of the ant- 

 bear [Orycteropus capensis) are annexed by them as habitations, 

 especially at such times when the females are whelping, but one 

 of these burrows is sufficient in size to accommodate quite a large 

 family. In running down their prey, they hunt by sight equally 

 with scent, and on viewing a victim, perhaps three or four from the 

 pack will start off in advance, as if to " make the running," while 

 the remainder follow more leisurely behind on the scent of those in 

 front, and by constantly relieving each other in batches, without a 

 great deal of exertion, thus tire out and run into the hardest running 

 antelope. When not strong enough in numbers to pull down such 

 a large animal as the Eland, they adopt the tactics of dashing in 

 now and then, and by snapping at the tendons of the hind legs, 

 endeavour to ham- string their prey before finally worrying it to 

 death. They utter a sort of barking whine. 



The Black-backed Jackal {Canis mesomelas). — Silver Jackaloi 

 the Colonists ; Pook-ooe of the Bechuanas. 



