The Indian Wolf 



Himalaya nor to the Trans -Indus districts of the 

 Punjab and Sind, Indeed it is doubtful if it reaches 

 the Indus in the Punjab, since a skull from the Salt 

 Range has been referred to the European wolf. The 

 Indian species appears to be unknown on the Malabar 

 coast, and is far from common in Bengal. In Ceylon 

 it is unknown, as it is in the countries to the east of 

 the Bay of Bengal ; but it has also been recorded from 

 Arabia. Open plain country forms its usual resort, 

 and it is rarely met with in hills or forest. 



Except that it never collects in large packs after the 

 manner of its European cousin in many parts of Russia 

 and Siberia, the Indian wolf appears to be similar in its 

 general mode of life to the former, so that there is 

 nothing in this respect calling for notice. Although 

 preying largely on the smaller domesticated animals, 

 the Indian wolf appears to be a terrible foe to black- 

 buck, while even man himself is by no means exempt 

 from its attacks. In attacking adult human beings it 

 appears that two or more individuals are in the habit 

 of joining forces ; but in carrying off children from 

 villages — to which the great bulk of the mortality 

 from these animals is due — a single wolf is able to do 

 the business by himself. 



When caught in the early morning in a more or 

 less gorged condition, the Indian wolf may sometimes 

 be ridden down and speared by a well-mounted man, 

 but at other times, although not appearing to be going 

 at any great pace, it will easily keep ahead of the fleetest 

 greyhounds till the latter succumb from exhaustion. 

 When their "earths" are known, wolves may some- 

 times be smoked out and shot ; but these animals 

 afford little sport, and are regarded rather in the light 

 of " vermin " than " big; o:ame." 



Since the last remark applies with still greater force 

 in the case of the Indian jackal, it has not been 

 deemed necessary to include that species in the present 

 volume. 



359 



