The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-02-23
The WfId Dogs OF Africa.

Almost every quarter of the globe,
where the large varieties of tere nature
are not thoroughly kept in subsection,
has its variety of wild dogs. These ami
mails almost invariably combine in large
numbers for the purpose of circumvent-
ing their prey, which, as a rule. consists
of the noblest variety of game.
In Indian the dholes even attack and
overcome the royal tiger, while the
North American prairies and plains re-
sound with the long-drawn and wild
howl of the coyote while on the track
of deer or other large game of the forest
or plain. In Africa, and especially in
the Somai country, and even nearer the
regions in the directions of the Cape, a
variety of wild dog exists, which commits
terrible ravages amongst the focks and
herds. When these are too well pro-
tected, and hunger drives them to seek
a meal elsewhere, they, like their con-
geners, turn their attention to prey of
which it would be thought they would
have an instructive dread. With them,
however, they appear to be aware of the
grand principle that union is strength.
and, accordingly, they unite in vast
pack, and, with the aid of their wonder
full instinct and exquisite noses, hunt
the largest, feetest and most wary of
the large African game to standstill,
and then tear it to piecemeal.
The Hon. W. Fl. Drummond, in his
notes on "The Large Game of Africa"
says it Isl marvellous sight to see pack
of them hunting, and drawing cover
after cover, their sharp, bell-like notes
ringing through the air, while few of
the fastest of their number take up their
station along the expected line of run
the wind, the nature of the ground, and
the habits of the game, all taken into
consideration, with the most wonderful
skill and then to see them after they
have found, going at their long, unswerv-
ing gallop, so close together that a
sheet might cover them. while those who
have been stationed, or had stationed
themselves-it is hard to say which
drop in one by one, as they find them
selves unable to make the running any
longer: and the chase, generally gnu
Or water antelope, pressed first by one
and then by another, though it may dis
tance the pack for while, soon comes
back to it, and is almost invariably run
into. "The only thing to which can
compare these animals" says Mr. Drum
mond, "and their instinct, as people
call it, is pack of hounds, hunted and
whipped in by members of their own
body, and combining in one human rea-
son and brute cunning and power"
He states that they do not show the
slightest fear of man, and although he
has shot one or two at various times, on
other occasions he has not dared to med
die with them for fear of their combin-
ing in an attack on him. Mr.. Drum
mond says that he once remembers COM
ing upon pack ofthem scattered asleep
in the long grass on the side of hill,
before he knew they were there. One
jumped up at his feet, and, running a
few yards, faced around and began to
give tongue. This signal reused up
more, until the grass seemed to become
alive with them, some jumping around
him and joining in the chorus, but none
attempting to run away. Being rather
alarmed, Mr.. Drummond picked out the
two most clamorous, and shot them,
whereupon the others retired, but only
very slowly.
They are curious-looking animals, and
have, as is common with all wild dogs, the
erect ear. Their skins are variegated,
and they can, according to Schweinfurth,
be trained to hunt, when they become
almost invaluable to the natives. In
deed, Livingstone mentions that the ma
tives of the Kalihari Desert break and
train them for hunting. There are two
varieties mentioned by some authors, but
Mr.. Drummond says he has only met
with one, of which Burton gives the fol-
lowing account: "The Waraba or Durwa
is, according to Mr.. Blyth, the distin-
guished naturalist, of the Asiatic
Society's Museum, at Calcutta, Canis
oictus sea- Venatieus (Lycaon pictus, or
wild honde of the Cape Boers). 1t
seems to be the chien sauvage or chyene
of the French traveller, Delagorgue, who,
in his Voyage dams LAfrique Aus
trale,' minutely and diffusely describes
it."