NATURAL HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF DOGS. 
563 
The Syrian wolf, at least of modern times, is a jackal. The 
geographical distribution of animals, we need scarcely here notice, 
has been greatly changed in consequence of the alterations on the 
condition of the earth’s surface, produced by man himself. Hence, 
not only the wolf, but the beaver and the bear have ceased to be 
numbered among the inhabitants of Britain, and the zeeb of Hebrew 
and Arabian writers, the ravening wolf of our translations of the 
Sacred Scriptures, does not now occur in the countries of Palestine. 
The genuine jackals are somewhat less in size than those above 
referred to, and differ likewise in their distribution, being not only 
found, like the others, in Africa and Western Asia, but also in the 
east of Europe and Southern India. They form burrows in the 
earth, assemble together in numerous troops, and have an offensive 
odour. They howl almost incessantly, and their melancholy cry, 
which commences at sunset and seldom ceases till the morning, is 
a well-known nuisance in eastern lands. They follow the footsteps 
of the greater feline animals, such as the lion and tiger, for the 
sake, as some suppose, of securing the remnants of their prey; but 
assuredly, so far from providing for the king of beasts, it is 
believed that they often do all in their power to circumvent and 
disappoint him. In regard at least to the tiger, it is well known 
in India, that while on ordinary occasions the nocturnal cry of a 
jackal is responded to by all his companions around, till the leafy 
woods become as the howling wilderness, there is a peculiar note 
of warning uttered by one of these creatures on the approach of 
the feline monster, which sinks the voices of all the others into the 
profoundest silence. 
These lesser jackals (there are several species) also enter into 
cities after dark for the purpose of preying upon offal, or what- 
ever else they can obtain. They devour carrion whether exposed 
or subterranean, that is to say, they will exercise their activity in 
digging into sepulchres, if these have not been properly protected. 
But during the fruit season they skulk about the vineyards, and 
grow fat on grapes. Although the offensive smell of the genuine 
jackals renders them unpleasant inmates in a family, they are by 
no means difficult to tame. We knew one which went about the 
house like a lank long-legged terrier, and shewed his difference of 
disposition chiefly in an incurable habit of gnawing the legs and 
arms of handsome mahogany chairs, to the great destruction of 
French varnish, and every other kind of polish. There is no doubt 
that these animals are also entitled to an important place in the 
genealogical tree of our domestic dogs. 
“ They associate readily with dogs, and hybrid offspring is not 
uncommon; nor is there a doubt that these mules are again prolific. 
The domestic cur-dogs of all the nations where the jackal is found 
