Booted Cat — Caracal 585 



blotches, and a black tip. The total length of the body and tail is about 

 3 feet or a trifle less. The Egyptian form has recently been distinguished 

 by Mr. de Winton as F. chaus nilotica. 



This handsome cat is found in some places in moist marshy localities 

 and the neighbourhood of reed-beds and dense covert ; in others in hilly and 

 mountainous country up to an elevation of 6000 or 7000 feet. It is savage 

 and untamable, a great foe to poultry, and has the reputation of being an 

 expert catcher of fish. It has been known to carry ofF wounded feathered 

 game from under the very nose of the gunner. H. A. Bryden. 



The Booted Cat {Felts mankulatd) 



Procured by Riippell in Nubia, and described by him as of a very dark 

 gray colour. It is now generally believed to be the northern representa- 

 tive of the Kaffir cat (F. caffra), previously described. 



H. A. Bryden. 



The Caracal or African Lynx {Felts caracal) 



Rooi-kat (Red Cat) of the Cape Dutch 



The rooi-kat is much better known to native hunters, and especially to 

 the Bechuanas, than to white sportsmen. The colonists, it is true, hating 

 the attacks of these nocturnal marauders on the young animals of their 

 flocks of sheep and goats, kill them as much as possible by poison and 

 trapping. But the African lynx is so shy and nocturnal a beast that 

 the white man seldom gets a fair chance at him with gun or rifle during 

 daylight. The Bechuanas, however, hunt the animal persistently with 

 dogs, clubs, and assegais for the sake of its handsome skin, which is greatly 

 valued. They are also in the habit of setting snares for it, and so skilful 

 are they, that even this intensely suspicious beast often falls a victim to 

 their clever contrivances with branches and slip-nooses. The fur of the 

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