82 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



Transport.— As it is an easily excitable animal, it is better to trans- 

 port it in a cage in which it has the least chance of being excited. 



Treatment in sickness. 



Whether such an animal is likely to die from convulsions is not 

 known, but the post-mortem appearance of the companion of the present 

 specimen suggested that belief. Unfortunately no autopsy was held. 



Observations on the habits of a Dingo. 



The dingo appears to be an excitable animal, and very restless 

 under ordinary circumstances. Though not savage, its temper can 

 never be trusted. The specimen now in the garden allows the keeper to 

 go inside the cage to clean it. It has a plaintive sort of cry, of some- 

 what prolonged note, and may often be heard at nightfall, particularly 

 if there is a bright moon ; it has never been heard to bark like a pariah 

 dog. 



(88) THE INDIAN WILD DOG. 



(CYON DUKHUNENSIS— Sykes.) 



Hindi — Sona Kutta, Ram Kutta. Kuya of the Sonthals, Kols and 



other aboriginal tribes of West Bengal. 



Description. — The general form of this animal is like that of a 

 jackal, but, though stout, it wants the compactness of the latter animal, 

 and there is a certain ungaiuliness about it, owing to the distended 

 appearance of its belly and abdomen, especially when one has lived 

 in captivity for some time. The tail is thick. The colour of the animal 

 varies somewhat, according to age, locality and season. It is generally 

 rusty red, slightly mixed with black on the back. Specimens obtained 

 from Western Bengal are generally paler than those from Assam, 

 Tipperah, and Burmah ; the winter coat is thick and bright coloured. 

 Terminal portion of the tail black. The average dimensions of a wild 

 dog are, head and body, about 37 inches; tail about 15. 



Rob. — It occurs throughout the Himalayan forests from Kashmir 

 to Assam, in the jungles and forests of Western Bengal, and is found 

 in the larger forests of the Indian Peninsula, in Gilgit, Ladak and 

 other parts of the Upper Indus Yalley, and has also been obtained 

 from Eastern Thibet. 



Specimens have been sent to this garden from Burmah, Assam, 

 Tipperah, Darjeeling, Hazaribagh, and Yizagapatam. 



Length of life in captivity. 



No wild clog has as yet lived in the garden more than two years 

 and a few months. For some reason they do not appear to thrive well 

 in captivity. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — The animal being of extremely active habits in its wild 

 state, it ought to have a tolerably large cage, where it may take such 



