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 Cuban : 



Head and body . . . . . . . 36 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 Cuban. 



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. 



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