CAEACAL. 53 



When it closes its eyes it has a pecuhar satisfied 

 expression, but when startled it is all activity, opening 

 its mouth, hissing, snarling, and showing off the fine 

 black markings round the mouth and at side of the 

 eyes. 



It is about 2^ to 3 feet in length. 



The Caracal is an inhabitant of South Africa, Nepaul, 

 and Northern parts of India, and is occasionally 

 employed like the Cheetah in hunting birds and game. 



Like other members of this family, it climbs trees with 

 agility, and has a ridge of hair along the back. 



The skin is of little value and is rarely imported. 

 The Cape variety is sometimes yellowish, but generally 

 of a light red colour. 



The name Karakal is derived from the Turkish Kai'a, 

 black ; Kulack, ear. 



CHEETAH. 



Cyuifturus jnbattis. 

 French : Guepard. German : Jagdleopard. 



The Cheetah inhabits South and East Africa, India, 

 Afghanistan, etc. ; it is rather smaller than the Leopard, 

 and is of a very pale colour, and marked with numerous 

 black round spots, which are slightly raised above the 

 rest of the skin. It has a slight mane of black and white 

 hair, the head is small, and there is a characteristic black 

 line running perpendicularly from the eye towards the 

 jaw. 



In some examples the fur is long on the belly, even 

 reaching 3 or 4 inches ; the tail is rather long, and 

 spotted at base, but ringed from the latter half of the 



