408 Colonel Syxxrs’s Description of the 
so defined an outline as to admit of their being drawn correctly; the 
feet are quite perfect. 
The drawing has been executed from actual measurements, but in 
the uncertainty of the height of the animal relatively to its length, I 
caused the drawing to be considerably foreshortened. It does not, 
therefore, show the real length of the body; but in ¢he position in which 
it is represented standing, it may be relied upon for its correctness. 
From the above description it will be observed, that the Wild Dog of our 
Ghats cannot be identified with any dog of which a description is given in 
the works of natural history to which I have alluded. It differs from the 
Dhole in having a bushy tail; from the “ Chien Sauwcage de Ceylon” in its 
bushy tail and superior size; from the African Wild Dog (likened to a 
large fox-hound), in its inferior size; and from the Dingo of New Holland, 
in its inferior height, general proportions, and colour; from the Shakal it 
is readily distinguished by its superior size, length of body, size of its 
limbs, and by its colour.* 
If naturalists will not admit of there being several species of the Wild 
Dog, we must class the Colswn as an hitherto undescribed variety. 
The Coit inhabitants of the Ghats appear to be quite aware of the exist- 
ence of troops of these Wild Dogs in their jungles and fastnesses ; but from 
the fabulous stories they relate of them, they cannot be familiar with their 
habits and economy. They state that these dogs hunt the royal tiger in large 
packs ; in the combat they urine on their own tails and switch them into the 
eyes of the royal beast ; the tiger is blinded, and in consequence is ultimately 
vanquished. Independently of the testimony of these people, respecting its 
being the habit of Wild Dogs to hunt in packs, on the day the specimen 
described was brought to me, Gora, one of my hamdls, and two other 
men, when going for water to a reservoir in the jungle, had their path 
crossed by ten of these dogs, apparently in full chase. The general testi- 
mony of travellers is in favour of their gregarious and venatic habits. 
The habitat of the Colswn would appear not to be confined to Bhima 
Shancar and its neighbourhood, as one of my office people from Citiir, in 
the Southern Mahratta country, instantly recognized it as an inhabitant of 
* Lieut.-Colonel Sykes subsequently named the Colsun, “Canis Deccanensis.”.—Vide Pro- 
ceedings of the Zoological Society, July 12th 1831. “Can. rufus, subtus pallidior : cauda comosa 
pendente : pupilla rotundata.” 
