THE LYNX. 1gl 
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 toa 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 Szya-gush, while in Turkish the name Xarakal has 
the same signification. 
ALI. THE LYNX. FELIS LYNX, 
felis nx, Linn., Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol. i. p. 62 (1766) ; Elliot, 
Monograph of Felidz, pl. xxxix. (1878-83); Blanford, 
Mamm. Brit. India, p. 8) (1888). 
