The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-03-09
THE WILD DOGS OF AFRICA.


Almost every quarter of the globe
where the large varieties of feras nu
ttr9 are not thoroughly kept in sub.
lection, has its variety of wild dogs
These animals almost invariably com
bine in large numbers for the purpose
of circumvent!ng their pIev. which, as
rule, consists Of the noblest variety
of game.
In India the dholes even attack
and overcome the royal tiger, while
the North American praries and
plains resouui with the long drawn
and wild howl of the coyote while on
the track of deer or other large game
OF the forest or p ain. In Africa, and
especially in the Somali country, and
even nearer the regions i'll the direc
tiOn OF the Cape, a variety of old
dog exists, which commits terrible
ravages amongst the hUcks and herbs.
When these are too well protected.
and hunger drives them to seek meal
elsewhere, they, like their corgeEers,
turn their attention To prey of which
it wUn.d Oe 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 u vast pack, and, with the aid of
their wonderful instinct and exqnisite
noses, hunt the largest, fleetest and
most wary Of the large African game
to sJnndstiIi, and then tear il to a
piece meal.
The lion W II. Drummond, in his
notes on "lhe Large Fame of A frica,n
says it - a marvellous sight to see
pack OF the j 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, unswerving gal
lop. so close together :hat a sheet
might cover them, while those who
have been stationed, or had stationed
themseives-it Is hard to say which
drop in one by one, as they find them
selves unable to make the running any
longer: aud the chase generally a Gnu
or water antelope, pressed first bv
one tnd then by another, though it
may distance the pack foI while,
soon comes back to it, and is almost
invariably run into. The ONLY thing
To which can compare these animals
saws Mr. DrummOnd, and their in
stinct. as people call it, is a pick Of
hounds, hunted and whipped in hv
mer bers Of their own body, and com
bining in one human reason and brute
cunning and power"
He states that they DO not show the
slightest fer of man, and although
he has shot one or two at various
times, on other occasions he has not
dar to meddle with them for fear of
their combining in an attack on him
Mr.. Drummoud saws that he once re-
members coming upon pack of them
scattered asleep in the long grass on
the siie of hill, before he knew they
were there. One jumped up at his
leet. 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 ATTEMPT
ing to run away. Being rather alarm
ed. Mr.. Drummond picked out the two
most clamorous, and shot them. where
upon 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
ScbweinIu.th. he trained to hunt.
when shev become almost invaluable
to the natives Indeed. Livingstone
mentions that the natives of the Kali
hari DeseT. 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 follow
ing account: The Waraba or Durwa
Is according to- Mr. Biyth, the Gistin
gulshed naturalist, of the Asiatic So
ctety 8 Museum. at Calcutta. CAMS
p'ctHS Seu VebdtcRs (Lgcoon pictus.
or wild honde Of the Cape -Boers). It
seeIns to TO the chic SGuraGe. or cby
enc Of the French traveller. Delagorune
who IN his 'Noyage dams L'Afrioue
Austraie,' minutely and diGusely des.
cribes it,"