CHAPTER V. 



THE INDIAN WOLF. 



Canis Pallipes. 

 Throughout India — Bherid. In Afghanistan — Giirg. 



THE Indian Wolf is generally distributed throughout the continent of India, and is also 

 met with in Afghanistan. It appears to prefer the drier and more open provinces, and to 

 avoid damp climates and extensive forests. 



It is a smaller and lankier animal than the European Wolf, and its coat is considerably 

 shorter. The general color is a brownish grey, with a sprinkling of black hairs. 



•The head is large in proportion to the size of the animal and the jaws are long and 

 immensely powerful. The eyes have a peculiarly sinister expression. 



Indian Wolves do not assemble in large packs, but are usually found alone or in pairs, 

 though they occasionally hunt in small parties. 



They are destructive brutes, and kill large numbers of sheep, goats and children, besides 

 wild animals. They are generally cowardly beasts, but they not infrequently take to killing 

 human beings, though in such cases they are very cunning in their selection of victims, and 

 as a rule, only attack the weak and unarmed. 



When impelled by hunger they sometimes become bolder, and when we were encamped 

 at Jalalabad during the winter of 1878-79, sentries were on more than one occasion attacked 

 by Wolves, which nightly visited our camp. 



It is singular that it is matter of general belief in India that Wolves sometimes nurse 

 and rear children that they have carried away — a story that appears to have gained credence 

 in every country and every age, since the days of Romulus and Remus. 



Although I have not infrequently met with Wolves, it has so happened that I have never 

 shot, nor even fired at, one. I have, however, on two or three occasions reared cubs, and 

 have found them most interesting pets. They have exactly the manners of dogs, and they 

 become much attached to their master, though apt to be suspicious of strangers, and inclined 

 to resent interference from any one who shows any fear of them. 



In 1875, I became the possessor of a young cub which I christened ' Rom.' He was 

 brought up with my dogs, and soon became perfectly tame. He was generally chained up, 

 but when let loose, he would run about the house, or accompany me in my walks. 



I could do what I liked with him, but he was the terror of a weak-minded cook, whose 

 kitchen he used to invade with a view to plunder ; and on one occasion I found ' Rom ' 

 standing on the lawn guarding a saddle of mutton, which he had abstracted, spit and all 

 from the kitchen fire ; the cook being too much frightened to hinder him ! 



