BARBARY JACKAL^ 
264 
Barbary jackal, or tiialeb. 
The Barb ary jackal is about tbe size of the 
common fox, anti is of a brownish fawn colour. 
From behind each ear runs a black line ; which 
soon divides into two, extending downwards along 
the neck. The tail is bushy, and surrounded by 
three dusky rings. 
This species is found in Egypt ; never in flocks 
like the common jackal, but always singly. It is 
a very adroit animal. He ventures to approach, 
even in the open day, the houses near which he 
has his subterraneous abode ; and carefully con- 
cealed beneath thick bushes, he frequently creeps 
without noise, surprises the poultry, carries off 
their eggs, and leaves no traces of his exploits 
but the devastations themselves. One of his 
principal talents consists in the hunting of birds ; 
and in this he exhibits such surprising craft 
and agility, that very few are able to escape 
him. 
His cunning is strongly depicted in the follow- 
ing’narration of M. Sonnini : One day, as I was 
meditating in a garden, I stopped near a hedge. 
A thaieb, hearing no noise, was coming through the 
hedge towards me, and when he had cleared him- 
self/was just at my feet. On perceiving me, he 
was seized with such surprise, that he remained 
motionless for some seconds, without even at- 
tempting to escape, his eyes fixed steadily on me. 
Perplexity was painted in his countenance, by a 
degree of expression of which I could not have 
supposed him susceptible, and which denoted 
great delicacy of instinct. On my part, 1 was 
afraid to move, lest I should put an end to this 
situation, which afforded me much pleasure. At 
length, after he had taken a few steps, first to- 
