58 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA 



low, isolated rocky eminences called Torias, that rise here 

 and there like islets in the middle of the plains, and on 

 the central plateau, and which are frequently surrounded 

 by grassy plains where they hunt their prey. They are 

 of a retiring and inoffensive disposition, never coming 

 near dwellings, or attacking domesticated animals, like 

 the leopard and panther; and I never heard of their 

 showing any sport when pursued. Their manner of 

 catching the antelope, by a union of cat-like stealth of 

 approach and unparalleled velocity of attack, has often 

 been described. A few are kept tame by the wealthier 

 natives, but more, I think, for show than real use in 

 hunting. 



The common jackal, always ready for food of any 

 description, seldom fails to make a meal of any wounded 

 animal, and I have seen a small gang of them pursue a 

 wounded antelope I had just fired at. The fawns of the 

 antelope and gazelle frequently become their victims. 



The wolf is extremely common in the northern parts 

 of the province; frequenting the same sort of ground as 

 the antelope and chikara. I have very seldom met with 

 them in forest tracts; and I think that in India they 

 are clearly a plain-loving species. They unite in parties 

 of five or six to hunt ; the latter being the largest number 

 I have ever seen together. More generally they are found 

 singly or in couples. I have several times observed them 

 in the act of hunting the antelope; their method being 

 to steal in on all sides of a detached party of does and 

 fawns, and trust to a united rush to capture one or more 

 of them before they attain their speed. Fast as the wolf 

 is (as you will learn if you try to ride him down), I do 

 not believe he is capable of running down an antelope in 

 a fair hunt, though doubtless old or injured animals are 

 thus killed by him. When game is not to be had, the 

 v/olf seldom fails to get a meal in the neighbourhood of 

 villages, in the shape of a dog or a goat. They are deadly 

 foes to the former; and will stand outside a village or 

 the traveller's camp at night, and howl until some inex- 

 perienced cur sallies forth to reply, when the lot of that 

 cur will probably be to return no more. Unfortunately, 



