The wild dogs of the Cape country, called _Wilde Hunden_ (wild hounds) by the Dutch, are usually regarded as near akin to the _hyenas_. But they are more like real wild hounds than hyenas; and their colour--which is a mixture of black, white, and tan--almost points to them as the progenitors of that variety of dog known as the hound. Their habits, too, would seem to confirm this hypothesis: for it is well-known that these animals pursue their prey just after the manner of a pack of real hounds--doubling upon it, and using every artifice to run it down. The numerous species of ruminant animals--the antelope in particular--are the especial objects of their pursuit, and upon these they subsist. Like the Indian wild dogs, they live in communities--using the burrows of the wild hog and ant-eater, as also the hollow ant-hills, for their lairs and breeding places. Travellers passing across the plains of South Africa have often witnessed the splendid spectacle of a pack of these beautiful wild hounds in pursuit of a large antelope, and almost fancied themselves looking at a stag hunt, with a kennel of real hounds going at full view! The true wild dog of all is that creature so well-known and celebrated in all our tales of childhood--the _Wolf_. To describe the wolf, or even to give an account of his habits, would be superfluous. Almost every one is acquainted with the gaunt form, the shaggy hide, and tierce aspect of this formidable creature; and every one has heard of his fierce and savage disposition: for who is ignorant of the story of "Little Red Riding Hood?" The presence of this much-disliked animal is almost universal: by which I mean, that in some form or other he is represented in almost every corner of the globe. You may say there are no wolves in Africa; but this is not true: for the hyenas are nothing more nor less than wolves, and wolves of the very ugliest kind. Fortunately wolves are no longer found in Britain, though they were once plentiful enough in these islands; but all over the continent of Europe there are still numerous wolves in the forests and mountains. The Common Wolf, that is, the wolf of Europe, is the type of the family; but this type offers many varieties--according to the different localities in which it is found. I shall here notice these varieties.