^ 7o THE RED DOGS. 



the Xvx<^ Sov^tg or Aureus of Oppian, which he 

 relates was a resident of the rocky jungles of Mount 

 Amanus and Taurus of Cilicia, a province where he 

 —the poet, naturalist, and sportsman— was born, 

 we cannot suppose that he spoke wholly from hear^ 

 say, and, ignorant of the characters of his golden 

 wolf, mistook it for a jackal, then not frequent so 

 far to the north; but which in comparison is insig- 

 nificant, does not fear the heat, nor retires during 

 the appearance of the dog-star;* is not of a bright 

 fulvous colour, but greyish in Natolia; is not to be 

 mistaken on account of its howling; burrows in the 

 vicinity of human habitations ; is the reverse of a shy 

 and solitary nature; and, finally, is not noticed by 

 him under another name.t The uncertainty and 

 confusion respecting this group commenced with the 

 ancients, who ranged in all probability no less than 

 three very distinct canines under the names of 

 Thoes. Pliny, in speaking of a Thos, which he 

 viewed as a kind of wolf, merely remarks that it had 

 a longer body, shorter legs, sprang with velocity, and 

 lived by hunting; adding, not dangerous to man. J 



Sirium orientem meduit. 



t Oppian \s Thous was a spotted animal. 



t " Luporum genus est (Thos) procerius longitudine, bre- 

 vitas cnirum, dissimile velox saltu, venatu vivens innocuum 

 hoimm. P/%_^lian'8 Thos may be jackals, but the Thoes 

 of Homer, described as put to flight by the lion, while they 

 surrounded a stag at bay, cannot be jackals but the Chryseus. 

 So also is the Thos of Aristotle when he notices their engaging 

 the lion. © 6 fo 



