THE CARACAL OR LYNX 

 Felis caracal, Giild. 



Somali name, Gududonneh 



Description. — The general colour is reddish grey with some 

 black-tipped hairs on the back, rendering it darker than the rest 

 — the colour is paler on the sides, and is nearly white underneath 

 with faint pinkish fawn-coloured spots. The ears are black with 

 spangles of grey hairs, and furnished with a tuft of long black 

 hairs at tip of each ear. The tail is of the general body colour. 



Measurements in the flesh of a male shot on Guban : 



Head and body ^^ in. 



Tail . . . . . . . . . • 9 » 



Height at shoulder 15,, 



Distribution. — The caracal is to be found throughout 

 Somaliland, but is distinctly rare. I have only twice seen it 

 alive — once in captivity at Berbera and once near the Arori 

 plain. Several have, of late years, been trapped on Guban. 



Habits. — It is nocturnal in its habits, sleeping throughout 

 the day in thick bush. It preys chiefly on birds and small 

 mammals, and frequently attacks sheep and goats in the daytime. 

 Dik-diks probably furnish their chief food supply. 



31 



