140 CANID^E. 



THE INDIAN WOLF. 



Descr. Hoary fulvous or dirty reddish-white, some of the hairs 

 tipped black, which gives it a grizzled appearance ; somewhat reddish on 

 the face and limbs, the latter paler than the hody ; lower parts dingy 

 white; tail thinly bushy, slightly black-tipped. Ears rather small. 



Length of one, head and body, 37 inches; tail 17; height at the 

 shoulder 26 inches. 



Elliot and Horsfield have stated that they did not consider the Indian 

 wolf specifically distinct from the European wolf, but Blyth gives it as 

 his opinion that it is so. " The Society's Museum now contains good 

 and characteristic examples of the skulls of the European, Indian, and 

 Tibetan wolves, G. lupus, pallipes, and laniger, and the specific distinct- 

 ness appears to be well marked. The European is the largest of the 

 three, with proportionally much larger and more powerful teeth, and the 

 orbital process of the frontal bone is much less developed than in the 

 others. The Indian and Tibetan wolves are more affined to each other 

 than either is to the European one." 



This wolf is found throughout the whole of India, rare in wooded 

 districts, and most abundant in open country. "The wolves of the 

 Southern Mahratta country," says Mr. Elliot, " generally hunt in packs, 

 and I have seen them in full chase after the goat antelope (Gazella 

 Bennettii). They likewise steal round a herd of antelope, and conceal 

 themselves on different sides till an opportunity offers of seizing one of 

 them unawares, as they approach, whilst grazing, to one or other of their 

 hidden assailants. On one occasion three wolves were seen to. chase a 

 herd of gazelles across a ravine in which two others were lying in wait. 

 They succeeded in seizing a female gazelle, which was taken from them. 

 They have frequently been seen to course and run down hares and foxes, 

 and it is a common belief of the Ryots that in the open plains, where 

 there is no cover or concealment, they scrape a hole in the earth in 

 which one of the pack lies down, and remains hid, while the others 

 drive the herd of antelope over him. Their chief prey, however, is 

 sheep, and the shepherds say that part of the pack attack and keep the 

 dogs in play, while others carry off their prey, and that if pursued they 

 follow the same plan, part turning and checking the dogs, whilst the 

 rest drag away the carcass till they evade pursuit. Instances are not un- 

 common of their attacking man. In 1824, upwards of 30 children were 



