1842.] Asiatic Society. 593 



Australia, though somewhat lower on the legs; but whether this or the Beluch wants 

 the second tubercular tooth, has not been ascertained." Nat. Libr., Mam., IX, 

 173-5. In the tropical countries eastward of the Boorampooter, it has been generally 

 understood that no wild canine animal exists, as appears to be truly the case with the 

 Jackal ; but I have information (and trust to receive specimens) of two species, differ- 

 ing much in size and habits, from the interior of Burmah, besides which I am told 

 that " a Fox resembling that of Bengal, but of a darker colour, and altogether more 

 resembling the English species except in size," inhabits the Siamese hills. " Wolves" 

 are mentioned in Capt. Low's list of the animals of Tenasserim (Journ. Roy. As. Soc, 

 III, 50), " and Wolves, or perhaps wild Dogs," are elsewhere stated by him to inhabit 

 the same range of territory. In Dr. Richardson's ' Mission to the Court of Siam,' 

 (J. A. S., IX, 5), Hares are mentioned,* " and Wild Dogs are said to be numerous 

 here [near Camboorie], larger, with longer hair than the common Dog, but equally 

 varying in colour." These would seem to be scarcely referrible to the present group. f 

 In Sumatra, we have seen that they exist, and Sir Stamford Raffles alludes to more than 

 one race in Java (Lin. Trans. XIII, 249), remarking that how far the Sumatran 

 animal " differs from either of those of Java, Dr. Horsfield will be able to decide." 

 I am unaware, however, that the latter naturalist has published any notice on the 

 subject. Dr. Solomon Muller, if I remember rightly, mentions them by the name of 

 Canis rutilus, as alike inhabiting Sumatra, Java, and Borneo (?) ; and a Java speci- 

 men was first taken to Europe by M. Leschenhault, "in size and in proportions equal 

 to a common Wolf, but the ears are smaller ; the colour is fulvous-brown, blackish 

 on the back, feet, and tail." Within the Indian Peninsula, the Colsun of Sykes, 

 according to Mr. W. Elliot, " was not known in the Southern Mahratta country until 

 of late years. It has now become very common." J 



* Vide my Report for January, ante, p. 102. 



t In a notice of some of the animals of the Tenasserim provinces, published in the Bengal 

 Sporting Magazine for August, 1841, page 44, we read that— " The Wolf is said by the natives 

 to have been in the country of the Kareans, as also the Wild Dog ; but their accounts are not much 

 to be relied on." It is at least probable, however, that wild canine animals of some kind are 

 alluded to. 



J Madras Journal, No. XXIV, 100. I may here cite a very interesting notice of this animal in 

 the 'Madras Journal,' No. XIV, 81 : " The animal termed by us the Wild Dog," writes Captain 

 A. Mackintosh, " is known to the natives by the name of Kollussnah, Kollusra, and Kollusa. 

 It is common in the Kotool district, and all along the range of western Ghauts. It is about the 

 size of a Panther [which would be very much larger than any I have seen], with very powerful 

 fore-quarters, narrow tapering loins, black and pointed muzzle, and small erect ears. The 

 tail is long, and at the extremity there is a bunch of hair several inches in length. The. 

 Kullussnah is of a darkish red colour, possesses great speed, and hunts in packs of five, eight, 

 fifteen, and even to the number of twenty -five ; is extremely active, artful, and cunning in master- 

 ing its prey. It is during the night-time they move about in search of food ; but, should an animal 

 approach near them, an hour or two after sunrise, or a short time before sunset, they will attack it 

 — all animals seem instinctively to dread them. During the day-time, they remain quiet in their 

 hiding-places. When the Kollussnah discovers an animal worthy of being captured, the circum- 

 stance is announced to the pack by a barking, whistling voice ; the others are on the alert, advance 

 rapidly and post themselves slily round the spot, and gradually close in on the animal. Upon 

 seeing one or two of the Kolussnahs he gets frightened, but much more so when, running away at 

 speed, he encounters one of his enemies in whichever direction he attempts to escape. The conse- 

 quence is, that he stands quite amazed. Some of the Kollussnahs run in close to him, and shed 

 water on their bushy tails, which they swing about and jerk into his eyes ; he is successively saluted 



4 i 



