\ 



THE LYNX. 191 



v, 



In India but little has been recorded as to the habits of the 

 Caracal in a wild state. Apparently resorting to low bushes 

 and tall grass, it avoids dense forests, and is reported to prey 

 on Gazelles, the smaller kinds of Deer, Hares, and other small 

 animals, as well as Peafowl, Florican, &c. So active are its 

 movements, that the Caracal is actually able to capture birds 

 flying over it, springing up to a height of six or eight feet from 

 the ground, and striking them down with a blow from one of 

 its fore-paws. 



Being easily tamed, the Caracal in some parts of India was 

 formerly (and, for all we know to the contrary, may be still) 

 trained to chase and capture various wild animals, such as 

 small Deer, Gazelles, Hares, Foxes, Peafowl, or Cranes ; while 

 another pastime was to pit two or more against one another to 

 kill pigeons out of a flock. As the birds are feeding on the 

 ground, the Caracals are suddenly loosed in the midst of them, 

 when each will not unfrequently strike down as many as ten or 

 a dozen before the pigeons can make their escape. According 

 to Vigne, the number of Caracals kept by some of the Indian 

 princes in the first half of the present century was very large ; 

 and, in proportion to their size, their speed is described as 

 exceeding even that of the Hunting-Leopard. 



Although agreeing with the typical Lynxes in general 

 characters, the Caracal lacks the ruff of long fur round the 

 throat so distinctive of the form ; while its short and close fur 

 is better adapted to the climate of the regions it inhabits. In 

 allusion to its black ears, the Caracal is known in Persia by the 

 name of Siya-gush, while in Turkish the name Karakul has 

 the same signification. 



XLI. THE LYNX. FELIS LYNX. 



■Felis tynx, Linn., Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol. i. p. 62 (1766); Elliot, 

 Monograph of Felidce, pi. xxxix. (1878-83); Blanford, 

 Mamm. Brit. India, p. 8; (1888). 



