1904-5.] Cape Hunting Dogs (Lycaon pictus). 
845 
the breeding of carnivora, informs me that during the act the 
male does not become “ locked” to the female as in the case of 
the domestic dog. 
The following table gives the leading details regarding the six 
litters born in the Dublin Gardens : — 
Date of Birth. 
Number of 
Puppies in Litter. 
Period of 
Gestation. 
First litter 
Second litter . 
Third litter . 
Fourth litter . 
Fifth litter 
Sixth litter 
Jan. 6, 1896 
Jan. 4, 1897 
Jan. 1, 1898 
Nov. 8, 1898 
May 16, 1899 
Jan. 1900 
4 
5 (1 reared) 
? 
12 (2 reared) 
? 
80 days 
80 ,, 
78 „ 
86 ,, 
80- ,, 
80-82 (?) 
What strikes one first in studying this table is that four out of 
six litters were born within the first few days of January, and that 
in the case of the first three litters the births were separated from 
each other by an interval of one year. Shorter intervals, viz., one of 
ten months and two of nine months, intervened in the case of the 
last three litters. It is not easy to offer a satisfactory explanation 
of the irregularity of the fourth and fifth litters. I am inclined to 
believe, however, in the absence of definite information on this 
point, obtained from the animals in a state of nature, that the 
Lycaon breeds only once a year, and that the irregularity noticeable 
in the case of the fourth and fifth litters is due to a tendency on the 
part of the Dublin specimens to adapt themselves to the climatic 
conditions of Ireland. At the same time it should be mentioned 
that certain indications were observed in connection with the 
demeanour of the parents towards each other which seemed to 
indicate that the sexual instinct was excited at more than one 
period in the year. 
The period of gestation was accurately ascertained in the case of 
the first five litters, and approximately in the case of the last litter. 
It may be reckoned as being eighty days. This is seventeen days 
longer than in the case of the domestic dog, and, as might be 
expected, the young when they are born are more lusty and more 
advanced in development than new-born puppies of the dog. Still, 
they are born with their eyelids closed. On one occasion (fourth 
