sting in various parts of the world. They usually live in
communities, and have the habit of hounds--that is, they hunt in packs.
Whether they were originally dogs in a domesticated state, and have
since seceded from the society of man, is a question which naturalists
are unable to agree upon.

In India there are two or three kinds of wild dogs living thus. One in
the Deccan--called Kolsun by the Mahratta people--is a reddish-coloured
animal, nearly as large as the common European wolf. It dwells in the
forests, far remote from the villages--and of course lives by preying
upon other animals--just as wolves and foxes do. Again, in the forests
of the Himalaya mountains there is another species of wild dog,
different from that of the Deccan. It is usually known as the wild dog
of Nepaul, from its being found in many parts of that kingdom. A large
community of these animals is often met with in the mountain forests--
living in caves, or at the bottoms of cliffs, where there are deep
crevices among the boulders of loose rocks, that afford them a secure
asylum when pursued by their enemies. In these places the dogs sleep,
and bring forth their young; and the puppies are taught to be
exceedingly wary, and not stray far from their dens during the absence
of the mothers. Indeed, so cunning do they become when only a few days
old, that it is difficult to capture one of them outside its
impenetrable lodging-place.

During many hours the old ones are abroad, in pursuit of the animals
upon whose flesh they subsist; and, as already stated, these dogs follow
their game not singly, but in bands or packs. In this way, instinct
teaches them that they will have a better chance of success; since they
are more able to head the pursued animal, turn it in different
directions, and at length run it to the ground. A curious fact is
related of the cunning of these wild dogs. It is stated that when in
pursuit of the larger animals--such as stags and large antelopes that
inhabit the same district--instead of running them down at once, the
dogs manoeuvre so as to guide the game to their breeding place, before
giving the final _coup_ to the chase! The object of this is to bring
the carcass within reach of their young; which, were it killed at a
great distance off, would be obviously impossible. Such a habit as this
would prove them possessed of something more than instinct; but for all
that, it may be true. A fact seems to confirm it: