194 THE THOA WILD DOGS. 
dogs only as distinct species, but we think that in 
a late paper he has felt the necessity of forming 
them into more separated locations. The variegated 
colours on the back were most likely the cause 
which induced the ancients to assert that the Thos 
(or Chaber of Africa) was, according to Oppian, an 
hybrid between the wolf and panther, or between 
the hyena and wolf, according to Varinus; and 
Solinus justly named the Ethiopian wolves Thoas. 
All the species have the tip of the tail black, and 
prefer rocky sandy districts where there are bushes 
and water, to humid woods. We suspect the grey- 
hound of the desert was originally derived from a 
species very nearly if not actually belonging to this 
section. 
