Melgreth: The melgreth (word is both singular and plural) is a four-footed predator which mostly travels in packs. Though not a migratory animal themselves, the melgreth follow the migrating herds of sand-oxen, a buffalo-like creature of considerable size. The melgreth are three to four feet high at the shoulder, rough-coated with dappled tannish hair, fangs, more claw than a wolf but less than a cougar (about like a grizzly's claws, maybe). Their heads are somewhat doglike in shape (a boxer, say) with shortish, powerful snouts--they sink their fangs in and hold on, clawing all the while, until the animal goes down; they have a very strong, virtually unbreakable jaw-grip. They have big, stand-up ears and a tail like a cat's. They're fairly fast runners with great endurance, not sprinters. Melgreth are sight-hunters, meaning they'll be VERY quick to spot any movement but not too good at tracking by scent (but not incapable!), and they have very sharp hearing. They are fairly cunning, at least the equal of wolves.

Some likely hunting tactics: When game is plentiful, attack 'em where they sleep (they sneak up fairly well), every adult choosing a victim and hanging on till it drops. When game is only moderately present, the pack splits and half go into an ambush while the other half stampedes the critters towards them. When game is scarce or too fast to catch, they run it in relays around a big circle. (Each of these tactics is used by one or more species of predator I've read about, and I don't see why a specially smart and adaptable breed couldn't make use of all of them.)

Their fangs are maybe three inches long, which is not long enough to kill with one bite unless they get lucky and grab the jugular. If they get a good shot, they might hamstring a beast, but since that involves striking toward the rear of the prey, if they miss, they've lost their chance at that one; they more often go for the head and/or shoulders. Once the animal is down, they start eating immediately, whether it's dead or not. If a pack decided to make a permanent base in or near a settled area, it would be immensely destructive to livestock.

They're wary of men but not afraid of them. If a man is on foot, a melgreth pack will almost always attack him; if the man is mounted, only sometimes will they attack.

A single melgreth, a loner, is usually either totally impossible to get along with--i.e., REALLY nasty-tempered, or a young male about to start its own pack. They might attack anyone under just about any circumstances.

Melgreth cubs have been taken and raised by humans in an attempt to use them as guard or hunting animals, but sooner or later the melgreth always turns on the humans--if one of these escapes, it will generally be a loner with an especial hatred for and knowledge of humans. If such an escaped melgreth does form or join a pack, the pack will then be special enemies of humans.