1122 
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 
No. I.— NOTE ON JACKALS (CANIS INDICUS INDICUS) Etc., 
IN A COMPOUND. 
We have experienced a very hot May and all the water, except in the tanks, 
is dried up. Lr my fernery, a few yards from the bmigalow, is a reservoir to 
which jackals, foxes, and mungooses come to assuage their thirst in the heat of 
the day. On account of this dearth of water all the animals are exceedingly bold 
and may be seen at all hom-s of the day, but more especially between ten and 
three, rmming or strolhng about the compomid. A fox ( Vulpes bengalensis) is 
fond of sitting or lying down in the shade of a tall evergreen shrub Avith pale 
mauve floAvers, about 30 yards from where I Avrite ; jackals are seen singly or 
m pairs trotting backAvards and fonvards across the laAAii, and this morning 
about ten o’clock a pair of jmigle cats (Filis ajffinis) stealthily and slowly 
slouched across the path Avith true feline gait. 
About 1 p.m. to-day, AA'hile AATiting in the verandah, I saAV a jackal chasing 
another across the compomid. They Avent the fuU length of the gromid and then 
turned and came galloping towards the bungaloAV, jinking aromid the shrubs. 
I noticed that the hair on the neck of the pursuing one Avas erect and that it 
carried its tail right over its back, AA hile the hair on the other one lay flat and 
the tail hung doAvn. I could see them very clearly as they charged right up to 
the verandah steps, in fact I thought they Avere coming in, but they swerved 
as they reached them. Although I Avas only some 2 or 3 yards distant they 
never saAV me and AA’ent off. The pmsuing jackal evidently lost the other one 
as shortly afterwards it returned on the scent, folloAAing the latter up all over 
the compound. I could easily recognise the beast as it AA^as most repulsive look- 
ing, gaimt and mangy, a brute Avbose bite would be dangerous. What specially 
struck me was the different positions m Avhich the tails AA'ere held. The jackals 
care nothing for my dogs, a spaniel and a small terrier, but stand and shoAV 
fight Avhen chased, much to the dismay and aimoyance of the former. 
This is the first year I have seen so many animals in the compoimd especially 
diuing the hottest hours. 
Tavo otters {Lidra lutra ?) were killed by my coolies m a drain leading from 
my tank, but I did not know about it till the evening, Avhen it Avas too late to 
save the skins for the Society, as the “ dhangars ” had consumed both. 
CHAS. M. INGLIS, F.Z.S., F.E.S., M.B.O.U, 
Baghowote, Bihae, 
26/A May 1922. 
No. II.— JACKALS ATTACKING A SPANIEL IN THE COMPOUND. 
A day or so ago, my spaniel spied a jackal crossing the compoimd and rushed 
out at it. The jack stood to fight and the dog also stood, at a safe distance, 
and kept barking at it. Li a few mmutes a second jackal came from the 
direction of the fernery where it had evidently been haAung a drink and com- 
ing behind the spaniel made a snap at it. The first jackal then advanced to 
attack, but the dog considering discretion the better part of valour, bolted, 
yelping, to the bungalow. 
I am certain had the dog been any distance from safety, both jackals would 
have attacked and killed it. 
