358 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA. 



to the wild pack actually hunting, and even sometimes 

 killing tigers, that it is difficult altogether to discredit 

 it. I do not believe that any number of the dogs could 

 overcome a tiger in fair fight ; but I think it quite 

 possible that they might stick to him, and wear him out 

 l)y keeping him from his natural food. Many stories 

 are related of tigers climbing into trees (which of course 

 is quite against their nature) to escape from them ; and 

 I once saw the hones of a tiger lying on a ledge of rock, 

 where more than one person assured me that they had 

 seen him lying surrounded by a large pack of the w'ild 

 doofs. 



The wild dog of this part of India"" is about the size 

 of a small setter, and the colour of the old " mustard " 

 breed of terriers. In shape, however, he is more vulpine 

 than any European breed of dogs, with a long, sharp 

 face, erect but not very long or pointed ears, and 

 slouching tail never raised higher than the line of the 

 back. In these respects he very much resembles the 

 red pariahs above mentioned, the most noticeable 

 distinction beins; that the latter raise their tails at times 

 a good deal higher, with something of a curl. Very 

 often, however, and particularly when moving fast, the 

 pariahs carry their tails just like the wild dog ; and so 

 close is sometimes the resemblance between them, that 

 I remember on one occasion, near Mandld, I allowed 

 wdiat afterwards proved to be really a wild dog to escape 

 from before my rifle, as he trotted across the road 

 before me, thinking him to be one of those red pariahs 

 strayed from some village. There is of course the 

 considerable distinction, that the wild dog cannot bark, 

 while the tame one can. But how readily the voice of 

 the latter reverts to the howl of the wild animal must 

 * Cuon rutilans. 



