176 THE RED DOGS. 
the Aux@ Hovges 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.{ 
* Sirium orientem meduit. 
+ Oppian’s Thous was a spotted animal. 
+ “ Luporum genus est (Thos) procerius longitudine, bre- 
vitas crurum, dissimile velox saltu, venatu vivens innocuum 
homini. Pliny.—/Elian’s 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. 
