Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-03-01
MASTERLESS PACKS.
Wild Dogs of Africa Which Unite to
Lnnt and Kill

Hunting where and in whatever
country he likes, without leave OF
license, the Cape hunting dog or wild
honden of the Beers becomes a terror
to the game in the country he hunts
not only on account Of the bucks he
destroys but because he keeps all the
game in the district in a state of un-
rest.
He is admirably endowed by ma
ture with all the necessary qualifica-
tions to enable him to find, hunt and
kill his own quarry without help
Once afoot with his game, says
Bailey's Magazine, a kill becomes al
most an absolute certainty.
Standing 25 to 81 inches high
with good galloping quarters, rather
long but very muscular legs, with
strong feet and toes; the ears are
very large and erect, beautifully
formed to catch the faintest sound
when working in thick coverts. Add
ed to this he has a very keen sense
of smell.
The jaws are wonderfully strong
with beautiful white teeth; they can
break bones which few animals ex-
cept the hyena could crack, and the
strength of the latter's jaws and
teeth are proverbial.
Their mode of hunting is very
clever Having found and started a
buck, some Of the fleetest dogs gal
lop forward ahead of the main pack
keeping on either side to prevent the
buck turning and doubling back. AS
these dogs tire they fall back and
others take up the running in theiI
place. When the quarry tires the
pack closes in and all their energy is
devoted to killing by tearing out the
ViScera.
Some writer's say the pack takes
the form Of a crescent when running
their prey. gradually closing in as the
game tires. All agree that the shor,
time taken in running down a buck
is simply marvellous, a quarter of al
hour being the estimated time ir
hunting, killing and consuming q
buck under ordinary circumstances
The wild dog is not at all faStidi'
Gus as to what food he shall take, bu,
he levies toll on any sort of buck oi
antelope he finds handy. Gnu, sable
and waterbuck are said to be his
favoriter food, but he has been known
to pull down a buffalo when pressed
for food. Needless to say, when at
tacking a powerful animal like this
some of the dogs meet with n sudden
death. and these are consumed by the
surviving members. They always
seem ravenous for food and their APP
petites are nearly Unsuitable. There
does not seem to he any record OF
their having attacked a white man
The Cape hunting dog is sometime:
called the hyena dog on account o1
his likeness to the hyena. The like.
ness. however, is only superficial, ano
the fact that he runs down and Kills
his prey in a sporting manner enti'
ties him to a small share of our re-
spect which a Scavenger like the ny
ena could never command.
Packs range from fifteen to forty
in number The note is bell-like and
rather musical One writer Sir An
drew Smith, likens it to "Ho-ho-ho'
no" sound, tending to run one into
the other. 1t is mOOted point as t'
whether they ever bark in the or
dinary way.
The Cape hunting dog seems inca
pable of thorough domestication
| They have been crossed with othel
dogs. but the result has never peer
satisfactory: the young retain ths
| treacherous nature of the wild parent
The hunting dog is numerous II
East Africa. and most sporting par
ties account for a few.