HUNTING-DOG. 
57i 
hyrnna is due to some advantage which the hunting-dog thereby gains. It is, 
however, very difficult to see what advantage a strong animal hunting in packs, 
like the present species, can gain by being mistaken for a hysena, as it is in every 
respect fully qualified to take care care of itself. If, however, we could suppose 
that the hunting-dog was originally a solitary animal, which had subsequently 
become gregarious, then perhaps the resemblance to the hysena might have been 
an advantage to it. 
Although generally nocturnal, the hunting-dog may occasionally be seen 
during the day. One of the best accounts of its habits is given by Gordon Cumming, 
who writes as follows :—“ The wild dogs, or vilde honden, as they are called by the 
Dutch boers, are still [about 1845] abundant in the precincts of the Cape Colony, 
and are met with in great numbers throughout the interior. These animals 
invariably hunt together in large organised packs, varying in number from ten to 
sixty, and by their extraordinary powers of endurance, and mode of mutual assist¬ 
ance, they are enabled to run into the swiftest or overcome the largest and most 
powerful antelope. I have never heard of them attacking the buffalo, and I believe 
that the animal pursued in the present instance [a gnu] is the largest to which they 
give battle. Their pace is a long never-tiring gallop, and in the chase they relieve 
one another, the leading hounds falling to the rear when fatigued, when others, 
who have been husbanding their strength, come up and relieve them. Having 
succeeded in bringing their quarry to bay, they all surround him, and he is imme¬ 
diately dragged to the ground, and in a few minutes torn to pieces and consumed. 
They are of a bold and daring disposition, and do not entertain much fear of man, 
evincing less concern on his approach than any other carnivorous animal with 
which I am acquainted. On disturbing a pack, they trot leisurely along before the 
intruder, repeatedly halting and looking back at him. The females bring forth 
their young in large holes, in desolate open plains. These burrows are connected 
with one another underground. When a troop of wild dogs frequenting these 
holes observes a man approaching they do not, as might be supposed, take shelter 
in the holes, but rather trusting to their speed, they rush forth, even though the 
intruder should be close upon them, and retreat across the plain, the young ones, 
unless very weak, accompanying them. The devastation occasioned by them 
among the flocks of the Dutch boers is inconceivable. It constantly happens that 
when the careless shepherds leave their charge, in quest of honey or other amuse¬ 
ment, a pack of these marauders comes across the defenceless flock. A sanguinary 
massacre in such cases invariably ensues, and incredible numbers of sheep are 
killed and wounded. The voracious pack, not content with killing as many as 
they can eat, follow resolutely on, tearing and mangling all that come within their 
reach. Their voice consists of three different kinds of cry, each being used on 
special occasions. One of these cries is a short angry bark, usually uttered when 
they behold an object which they cannot make out. Another resembles a number 
of monkeys chattering together, or men conversing together when their teeth are 
chattering violently from cold. This cry is emitted at night, when large numbers 
of them are together, and they are excited by any particular occurrence, such as 
being barked at by domestic dogs. The third cry resembles the second note 
uttered by the cuckoo which visits our islands during the summer months, and, when 
