WILD Dots. There exist in southeastern Asia and in Australia three or four species of canine animals which are hardly separable from the genus Canis by d ist inet character_ of importance, yet which seem to form a natural group that may be consistently separated as a genus or subgenus Cyon,characterized mainly by the lack of the small last tubercular molar tooth on each side of the lower jaw (as was the case with fossil Cynod ictis) , by having a comparatively short, muzzle, slightly convex facial outline, rather short legs, with long hair between the footpads, and 12 to 14 main line instead of the normal ten. The dingo may, for the present, be included in this group. Their resemblance in general is to jackals, of which Iluxley considers them a locally modified type, hut they have a more 'doggy' appearance than cutler jackals or wolves. It is from this re• semblance that the designation 'wild dogs' arises, and not from the belief that any of them is a direct progenitor of modern domestic dogs, CVO] though individuals of all of them may occa sionally have been tamed and attached to human owners. There is much general resemblance among them. In size they :•onleWhat exceed the jackals, being from 30 to :31; inches long exclusive of the tail, which in all is lung (about two-fifths of the length of the body) and bushy, like that of a jackal or a fox. All have eomparatively long and coarse hair, the prevailing color of which is rust red in summer and lighter in winter, and generally decidedly darker on the back and tail than on the chest, belly, and inside of the legs. They go abroad in the daytime rather more than at night, hunt in packs of a dozen or more, led by an old male; and dwell by families, some times polygamous, in creviees of rocks, hollow trees and similar retreats, but they do nut dig burrows.
The hest known of these is the Indian wild dog (('anis, or ''yon, Dieconensis), which in habits the forested parts of the whole Ilinialayan region, the treeless area of eastern Tibet, and southward as far as the great forests of India.
The more southerly form, known as the Aide in the far south of tin' peninsula, scum kith, (golden dog) in central India, and kolson among the Mahrattas, has heel' apart by some students (see :Nlivart, Proceedings of !/n' Zoiiiogico/ so y of London, 1590, p. SS) as a separate species (Canis prinitTrus), but the distinetion iv doubted. TIte native name of the northern form is 'Imansu,' to which the reader is referred 1' r further particulars.
'Hue Malay wild dog (Canis ruinous) is a smaller species, which occurs east of Ben gal throughout the Malay Peninsula, and also in . la va Sumatra, and perhaps Borneo; whet her the it wild dog of nitper Burma belongs to this or the preceding species is dubious, and this doubt lends color to the opinion of some naturalists that these Eastern forms are not specifically sepa rate from the Indian one. Blonford regards the Malay dog, as distinct and deserilws it as smaller, more slender in body and limbs. with shorter and harsher hair, it deep ferniginous red. Its habits in general seem to be those of the Indian dog.
The Siberian wild dog (Canis a/pinus) much resembles the others in features and habits. it inhabits the forested regions of northern Asia as far south as the Altai Mountains. and sub sists almost entirely on deer, which it hunts in comp:inks, pursuing them so constantly that it is said occasionally to destroy or drive away all the deer in certain districts. It also hunts the ibex in the high mountains. It appears that this semi-arctic dog changes its summer coat of fox red tor a long and woolly winter dress of yellow ish white, as do the arctic foxes.
There remains to be mentioned the dingo (Canis dingo). which by some naturalists has been set apart in a genus (Dingo) by itself. It inhabits Australia only, and bears a considerable resembianee to the Himalayan wild dog. Al though numerous in wild packs, it is also kept domesticated by the native Australians, by whose remote ancestors it was probably introduced to that island from the North. See DINGO.