THE CARACAL 83 



bathed with soap and cold water every morning, being afterwards rubbed 

 dry with a towel. This gives a good idea of the tameness to which 

 the creature will sometimes attain ; as a contrast, may be mentioned 

 an individual from the Caucasus at present in the London Zoological 

 Gardens, which is so shy that it is difficult to get even a sight of it. 



THE CARACAL 



(Felis caracal) 



THIS handsome Cat, though undoubtedly a near relative of the Lynxes, 

 is very distinct from any form of these. Its general shape is similar, but 

 it is more slenderly built, and has a much longer tail, though this is still 

 shorter than that of Cats generally, only reaching down to the hocks. 

 The long ear-tufts so characteristic of Lynxes, however, are particularly 

 well developed in this species, whereas in the Bay Lynx they are hardly 

 noticeable. 



The coat of the Caracal is very close, and it has not the neck-ruff of 

 the Lynx ; the beast is self-coloured, being of some shade of reddish- 

 brown, from chocolate to fawn. The ears are either jet-black, or 

 grizzled black and white. In size the Caracal is not equal to the largest 

 Lynxes, but exceeds most of the other minor Cats. 



The Caracal is found both in Africa, where it ranges all over the 

 continent, and through Western Asia into India, where it is found chiefly 

 in the west. It is an animal of open, dry country, keeping to bush- and 

 grass-jungle, and feeding on small Antelopes, Hares, and birds, especially 

 large species, such as Bustards, Cranes, and Peafowl. It has a great 

 advantage over such quarry as these big birds, which " get under way " 

 heavily and comparatively slowly, as it will make bounds of a couple of 

 yards into the air to bring down its victim, when it is literally " all over 

 it " in an instant. 



Its speed of foot is also very great, for it is said to be even swifter 

 for its size than the Cheetah, and apparently runs down much of its 

 prey in the same way. In South Africa, where it is known as the 



