440 THE CARNIVORES 



THE CARACAL (Felis caracal) 



The foxy-colored cat known as the caracal is a species of larger size than 

 the jungle-cat, though smaller than the true lynx, and agrees with the latter in 

 its long limbs, penciled ears, and the characteristics of its teeth ; but in its longer 

 tail, absence of a ruff round the throat, and less close and thick fur, it resembles the 

 jungle-cat. The transition from the typical cats to the lynxes is, therefore, complete. 



The caracal, in addition to its relatively long limbs, is characterized by its 

 slender build, by the length of the tail being equal to one-third of that of the hind- 

 leg and body, and by the long tufts of black hair surmounting the long ears. From 

 the latter feature the animal is known to the Persians by the name of Siyah-gush ; 

 siyah signifying black and gush ears. The skull is characterized by the elevation 

 of the crown and the shortness of the face ; while there are but two premolar teeth 

 in the upper jaw, and the flesh-tooth of the lower jaw is distinguished by the 

 presence of the rudiment of the heel, which is found fully developed in that of the 

 hyaenas. 



In color the caracal varies from a uniform rufous-fawn color to a brownish 

 rufous ; the under parts being either a paler rufous or white, and frequently marked 

 with obscure rufous spots. The limbs and tail are colored like the body, although 

 in some individuals the tip of the tail may be black. The outer sides of the ears 

 are either partially or completely black, while their interiors are white. The length 

 of the head and body varies from twenty-six to thirty inches, and that of the tail 

 from nine to ten inches ; the height at the shoulder being from sixteen to eighteen 

 inches. 



This species is sometimes known as the Persian, and at others as the red lynx, 

 but the latter name is properly applied to a North American variety of the true 

 lynx. Although a rare animal everywhere, the caracal is spread over the greater 

 part of India, with the exception of Bengal, the Malabar coast, and the Eastern 

 Himalayas. It is unknown to the eastward of the Bay of Bengal, but towards the 

 southwest it is found in Mesopotamia, and perhaps the Persian highlands. It is 

 also found in Arabia ; and over a large portion of Africa it is the sole representa- 

 tive of the lynxes. 



We have little or no information as to the habits of the caracal in Africa, and 

 only a scant record of its mode of life in India. Mr. Blanford considers, however, 

 that it probably dwells among grass and bushes, rather than in. forests. Its prey is 

 stated to consist largely of gazelles, the smaller species of deer, hares, peafowl, 

 florican, cranes, and other birds ; and so active is the creature, that it is asserted to 

 have the power of springing up and capturing birds on the wing at a height of five 

 or six feet above the ground. The caracal is easily tamed, and in some parts of 

 India is trained to capture several of the animals mentioned above as forming its 

 natural prey. Blyth records that it is a favorite amusement among the natives to 

 let loose a couple of tame caracals among a flock of pigeons feeding on the ground, 

 when each of them will strike down as many as ten birds before the flock can escape- 

 It is believed that the expression ' ' lynx-eyed ' ' owes its origin to this species. 



