THE KHOLSUN, OR DHOLE. 



derives its origin from one or other of these animals, some attribute its som'ce to 

 the wolves, and others to the fox. 



The Dhole, or Kholsun, as it is sometimes called, inhabits the western 

 frontiers of British India, its range extending from ]\lidnapore to Chamar, but 

 does not appear to take up its residence in other parts of the same great country. 

 Even in the localities which are favoured by its presence, the Dhole seldom makes 

 its appearance, and by many residents in India, has been counted but as a myth 

 of the natives. It is a very shy animal, keeping aloof from man and his habita- 

 tions, and abiding in the dense dark jungles, which extend for hundreds of miles, 

 and afford little temptation for human beings to enter. 



Among the peculiarities of the Dhole's character, its fondness for the chase is 

 perhaps tlie most remarkable. Tlierc is nothing peculiar in the fact that the 

 Dhole unites in large packs and hunts down game, both large and small, because 

 many of the canine race, such as wolves and others, are known by many and 

 tragical experiences to run down and destroy tlieir prey in like manner. But the 

 Dhole is apparently the only animal that, although individually so far the inferior 

 of its fierce prey, in size, strength, and activity, has sufficient confidence in its 

 united powers, to chase and kill the terrible tiger, maugre his fangs and 

 claws. 



From the observations which have been made, it seems that hardly any native 

 Indian animal, with the exception of the elephant and the rhinoceros, can cope 

 with the Dhole ; that the fierce boar falls a victim, in spite of his sharp tusks, and 

 that the swift-footed deer fails to escape these persevering animals. The leopard 

 is tolerably safe, because the dogs cannot follow their spotted quarry among the 

 tree branches, in which he fortifies himself from their attacks ; but if he were 

 deprived of his aboreal refuge, he would run but a poor chance of cscai)ing with 

 life from the foe. It is true that, in their attack upon so powerfully armed animals 

 as the tiger and the Ijoar, the pack is rapidly thinned by the swift blows of the 

 tiger's paw, or the repeated stabs of the boar's tusks ; but the courage of the 

 sm-vivors is so great, and they leap on their ju-ey with such audacity, that it always 

 yields at last from sheer weariness and loss of blood. 



It is probable that the sanguinaiy contests which often take place between 

 the Dholes and their prey have a great efiect in checking the increase of the 

 former animals, and that, if such salutary influence were not at work, these 

 bold and persevering hunters might increase to such a\? extent as to become a 

 serious pest to the country. 



In the chase, the Dhole is nearly silent, thus aflbvding a strong contrast 

 to the cheerful tongue of the fox-hoiind in " fidl cry/' or the appalling howl 



00 



