594 Asiatic Society. [No. 126. 



To sum up, Colonel H. Smith remarks, that — " On reviewing the notices of the present 

 group ofWild Dogs, whether they be one or several species, it is evident that they 

 extend their habitat over an immense surface of Asia; and since they are found to the 

 westward of the Indus, it is likely they inhabit the deep forests along the Caspian, and 

 continuing in the same parallel of latitude, that they have existed and possibly 

 may still be found in the mountains of Asia Minor. If, now, we compare the foregoing 

 descriptions [Nat. Libr., Mam., vol. IX,] with the account of Xv KOQ £±OvpOQ 

 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 sports- 

 man, was born, we cannot suppose that he spoke wholly from hearsay, 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 insignificant, 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.f The uncertainty and confusion respecting 

 this group commenced with the ancients, who ranged in all probability not less than 

 three very different canines under the name of Thoes. Pliny 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. J 



in the same manner, when he approaches them, or they run into him. The unlucky beast is soon 

 blinded by the peculiar escharotic quality of the application ; for he begins to stagger and run 

 round and round, and is now beset by all the Kollussnahs who make a loud barking and snapping 

 noise while they pull the animal down and tear it in pieces. When few in number, they have been 

 known to gratify their hunger before the poor animal fell down and expired, each of them tearing 

 away a mouthful while their victim remained standing. There are very few instances of their ever 

 having attacked the villagers' cattle, but they will kill stray calves if they fall in with them. The 

 Kolies never molest the Kollussnah, in fact they are glad to see them in their neighbourhood, being 

 aware of the enmity that exists between them and the Tiger, for they kill that animal occasionally ; 

 and in consequence they are considered by the people as the protectors of their cattle and their 

 fields, for neither Sambur, Deer, or Hog, seem disposed to approach places much frequented by 

 the Kollussnah. They hunt and kill the Sambur, Neelgaie, Hyaena, Deer, Jackals, Hares, Hogs, 

 Bears, Porcupines, and Quails. They killed a Tiger in June, last year, in the Taloongun jungles." 

 For a detailed account of the Buansu or wild Dog of Nipal, by Mr. Hodgson, vide As. Res. 

 XVIII, pt. II, where also are given comparative figures of this animal, the common Indian Fox, 

 and the Jackal. A writer in the Bengal Sporting Magazine, for 1838, p. 404, mentions, that on 

 removing the skin of a "Wild Dog," which he shot near Saugor, "hundreds and hundreds of 

 thorns, of bushes and the spear-grass, were observed lying in the thin membrane between it and 

 the muscles ; everywhere, but chiefly in the front part of the fore and hind legs ; there was no 

 symptom of inflammation from them, except in two wounds where a little matter had formed : the 

 coat was quite smooth, and there was no vestige of parasites about the animal." The same writer 

 mentions the cry of these creatures when in pursuit of prey, as "the palpable bark of the Dog, but 

 shorter and not so deep, and I thought at the time, as they rushed by me on the right and left, that 

 there was something very angry in the tone of it. Their run was perfectly beautiful, and all 

 together they disappeared, eight in number, over the hill, still preserving the form of a row." 

 * Sirium orientem metuit. 

 t Oppian's Thous was a spotted animal. 

 J " Luporum genus est (Thos) pjrocerius longitudine brevitas crurum, dissimile velox saltu, 

 venatu vivens innocuum homini." Pliny. Elian's Thoes may be Jackals' : but the Thoes of Homer, 

 described as put to flight by the Lion, while they surrounded the Stag at bay, cannot be Jackals 

 but the Chryseus. So also is the Thos of Aristotle, when he notices their engaging the Lion. 



