THE FAMILY OF DOGS

WOLVES , JACKALS AND FOXES ALL BELONG TO ONE FAMILY, THE FAMILY OF DOGS . THEY ARE FOUND ON EVERY CONTINENT EXCEPT ANTARCTICA. THEY LIVE IN THE FOREST AND ON THE STEPPES , IN THE MOUNTAINS AND ON THE PLAINS , IN THE TUNDRA AND IN THE DESERT.
THE LEGS OF ANIMALS IN THIS FAMILY ARE LONG AND WELL SHAPED . THE PAWS HAVE STRONG , BLUNT CLAWS . ALL THE ANIMALS RUN FAST , SOME AT THE SPEED OF 65 KILOMETERS AN HOUR . THE HAIR IS THICK AND VARIOUS SHADES OF GREY AND RED . SOME OF THE ANIMALS ARE STRIPED. ONE OF THE AFRICAN JACKAL IS CALLED THE STRIPPED JACKAL . THE AFRICAN WILD DOG HAS WHITE , BLACK AND YELLOW SPOTS . THIS IS THE ONLY WILD ANIMAL THAT HAS HAIR OF THREE COLOURS .

THE LARGEST AND THE SMALLEST ANIMAL OF DOG FAMILY IS THE WOLF. IT CAN RUN VERY FAST WITH A GOAT OR SHEEP ON ITS SHOULDER THAT YOU CAN HARDLY CATCH UP WITH IT EVEN ON A GOOD RACE HORSE. IT IS VERY TRUE TO SAY THAT THE WOLF LIVES BY ITS FEET. SOMETIMES IT RUNS 60 KILOMETERS A DAY IN SEARCH OF PREY . AND NOT ALWAYS DOES IT FIND IT , EVEN RUNNING THAT DISTANCE . IT IS NOT EASY FOR AN ANIMAL IN THE WILD TO FIND FOOD . FOR THSI REASON, WHEN A WOLF MAKES A GOOD KILL ,  IT GORGES ITSELF. IT CAN EAT 10 KILOGRAMS OF MEAT AT ONE TIME. THE WOLF HAS VERY STRONG JAWS . IT CAN CRUSH LARGE BONES EASILY .

THE JACKAL IS THE MOST CUNNING MEMBER OF THE  DOG FAMILY. PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IT BECAUSE IT IS A TERRIBLE THIEF. WHAT CUNNING IT SHOWS ! IF A JACKAL WANTS TO CATCH A CROW OR MAGPIE , IT LIES DOWN BY THE ROAD AND MAKE IT BELIEVE THAT IT IS DEAD . WHEN THE BIRD SEES THE JACKAL , IT COMES DOWN TO PECK AT THE DEAD FLESH . UP JUMPS THE CUNNING JACKAL , AND THAT IS THE END OF THE BIRD.
THERE ARE MANY TALES ABOUT THE CUNNING FOX , BUT THEY ARE ALL UNTRUE. THE WOLF AND THE JACKAL ARE FAR MORE CUNNING THAN THE FOX. IT IS CERTAINLY NOT A CAPRICIOUS ANIMAL . IT NEVER HUNTS JUST TO KILL . IT FEEDS MAINLY ON BARN AND FIELD MICE . IT IS A MASTER AT CATCHING THESE RODENTS THAT DO SO MUCH DAMAGE TO FARMS.

THE FENNEC IS THE SMALLEST RELATIVE OF THE DOG BUT HAS THE BIGGEST EAR . IT IS AS SMALL AS A KITTEN , BUT ITS EARS WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR A BIG SHEEP DOG. THESE CHARMING ANIMALS LIVE IN THE HOTTEST PLACE ON THE EARTH , THE SAHARA . ALL DAY THE FENNECS HAVE TO HIDE FROM THE BLISTERING SUN IN DEEP AND COOL BURROWS . ONLY TOWARD EVENING DO THEY ALL CRAWL OUT AT ONCE AND SIT QUIETLY NEAR THEIR BURROWS, WAITING FOR THE DAY TO COOL OFF .IF THE SUN STILLS BURNS , THEY LIE DOWN AND COVER THEIR HEADS WITH THEIR BUSHY TAILS, AS THOUGH  THE TAILS WERE UMBRELLAS . AT LONG LAST IT IS PLEASANTLY COOL . THE FENNEC SUDDENLY STIFFENS ITS BIG EARS . IT HAS HEARD SOMETHING ! IT CREEPS TO WHERE A LIZARD MAY HAVE JUMPED . A DESERT LARK MAY HAVE STIRRED IN ITS SLEEP . IMAGINE HOW LITTLE NOISE THAT WOULD MAKE . BUT THE FENNEC HEARS EVERYTHING . IT KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE THE BIRD IS HIDING . IT CREEPS FORWARD AGAIN LIKE A SHADOW, STOPS AND LEAPS. THERE ! IT HAS ITS VICTIM IN ITS TEETH.