the dogs and the lion's skin is a fable ascribed to aesop and is numbered 406 in the perry index. however, it is only found in a mediaeval greek manuscript claiming to be a translation from the syriac (syntipas, fable 19). the story relates how some dogs, finding the skin of a lion, began to tear it to pieces. seeing them, a passing fox remarked, "if this lion were alive, you would soon find out that his claws were stronger than your teeth."