LAOS, OR. Vrika, . . . . Salim Zeeb, . . . . HEB. Lobo, Loba, Lupin, . SP.
The wolf roams over British India, never singly, but always in large or small packs. If a single one appear, it may be assumed that others of the pack are near. They aro bold even in the vicinity of towns, acarcely moving off from horse men ; and in Central India, Oudlt, and the Patijab, they destroy large numbers of children, and even full-grown men and women. Itt this case two wolves would attack, one stealing up behind and seizing the victim by the neck, while the other, coming swiftly up, tears out the entrails in front. In the seven years 1875 t,o 1881, 4452 persons were destroyed by wolves in India. Their ordi nary prey are deer and sheep, and in pursuit they display great sagacity, throwing out flanking parties on surrounding the game. Recently a sambur deer was seen to run close up to n railway train in Berar but halted as the train moved on ; looking I;eyond, a body of wolves were observed in its pursuit.
Wolves are numerous in the neighbourhood of Sultanpur, and, indeed, all along the banks of the Guinti river, among the ravines that intersect them ; and a great many children are carried off by them from towns, villages, and camps. Hardly
any of the Hindu population, save those of the very lowest class, who live a vagrant life, and bivouac in the jungles or in the suburbs of towns and villages, will attempt to catch or kill them. All other IIindus have a superstitious dread of destroying or even injuring them ; on whose band a drop of wolcs blood has fallen, believes himself doomed to destruction. The class of little vagrant communities above mentioned, who havo no superstitious dread of destroying any living thing, eat jackals and all kinds of reptiles, and catch an kinds of animals, either to feed upon themselves,or to sell them to thoso who wish to keep or hunt them. Wolf-boy; Colonel Sleemtui Dieti tians instances of children brought up by wolves. —Rajasthan i. p. 466 ; Sleeman's Journey, p. 20G.