TIGERS AND WILD DOGS. 275 



as a not wholly improbable contingency, and is different from their having 

 killed him with the intention of making a meal of him. I observe that 

 ]\Ir Walter Elliot, quoted by Dr Jerdon, says : " Another instance was 

 related in a letter by a celebrated sportsman in Khandeish, who, having 

 killed a tigress on his return to his tents, sent a pad-elephant to bring it 

 home. The messenger returned, reporting that on his arrival he found her 

 alive. They went out next morning to the spot, and discovered that she 

 had been dragged into a ravine by another tiger and half the carcass 

 devoured." 



It is universally believed by natives that the tiger is occasionally killed 

 by packs of wild dogs {Oiion rutilans). These animals are not numerous ; 

 their operations are of a character so destructive and harassing to game that 

 no tract could support them in any considerable number. Their ranges 

 extend over immense areas of country, whilst they seldom hunt in one 

 neighbourhood for more than a few days, and that at considerable intervals, 

 as the deer become so scared that they flee the locality. The wild dog is 

 between a wolf and jackal in size, of a uniform deep rusty colour above, 

 paler below, and with a blackish brush. They run both by sight and scent, 

 and their perseverance and endurance are so great that they rarely fail ot 

 kill any animal on whose track they start. From what I have seen of their 

 style of hunting, and of their power of tearing and lacerating, I think there 

 can be no doubt of their ability to kill a tiger. I can caU to mind two 

 examples of their powers. One morning two dogs chased a spotted hind 

 past my tent. One of them halted at sight of the encampment ; the other, 

 which was within springing distance, made two snatches at the exhausted 

 creature's abdomen, and then drew off. The bites were inflicted with light- 

 ning speed : the deer went but a few paces when she fell with her entrails 

 protruding. On another occasion I heard the yapping of jungle-dogs, and a 

 noble spotted stag came racing down an open glade, his branching antlers 

 laid along his back, and three wild dogs at liis flanks. They had only time 

 to make a snap or two each when we interfered. The stag went but a few 

 yards and feU, and was speared by one of my men. In the moment's biting 

 it had been emasculated, and about four pounds of flesh torn from the inner 

 part of its thighs. 



Similar injury might easily be inflicted on a tiger. I have seen more 

 than one flee from a pack of curs — a very mangy one gallantly holding on 

 to the royal beast's tail on one occasion — and it is probable a tiger would 

 turn from wild dogs. The latter's habit of hunting almost exclusively 

 during the day would be in their favour in an encounter with a tiger. Their 

 tactics are not to attack in front ; they never expose themselves to the 



