The Cat Tribe 



63 



catcli birds, gazelles, and hares. The Common Lynx is la-olialily tlie same animal, whether 

 found in Norway, Eussia, the Carpathians, Turkestan, China, or Tiln't. The Canadian Lynx 

 is also very probably the same, with local differences of colour. Tin- Noimii<;uN Lynx is 

 the largest feline animal loft in Europe, and kills sheep and goats eipinlly with hares ami 

 squirrels. The beautiful fur, of pale cinnamon and light grey, is much admired. In some 

 southern districts of America we have the Eed Lynx, or so-called " wild cat, ' which is distinct 

 from the lynx of Canada. The MEDri'ERRANEAN or Spanish Lynx seems likcnvise entitled to 

 rank as a distinct species. 



Of the lynxes the Caracals are perhaps the inost interesting, from their capacity for 

 domestication. They are found in Africa in the open desert country, whereas the Serval is 

 found in the thick bush. In Africa it is believed to be the most savage and untamable of 

 the Cats. That is probably because the Negro and the KafSr never possessed the art of training 

 animals, from the elephant downwards. In India the caracal's natural prey are the fawns of deer 

 and antelope, pea-fowl, hares, and floricans. The caracal is the quickest with its feet of any of 

 the Cats. One of its best-known feats is to spring up and catch birds passing over on the 

 wing at a height of six or eight feet from the ground. A writer, in the Naturalist's 

 Library, notes that, besides being tamed to catch deer, jjca-fowl, and cranes, the caracal was 

 used in "'pigeon matches." Two caracals were backed one against the other to kill pigeons. 

 The birds were fed on the ground, and the caracals suddenly let loose among them, to strike 

 down as many as each could before the birds escaped. Each would sometimes strike down 

 with its fore paws ten or a dozen pigeons. " Caracal " means in Turkisli ••Black Ear," in allusion 

 to the colour of the animal's organ of hearing. 



The Common Ly'NX is a thick-set animal, high in the leg, with a square head and very 

 strong paws and forearms. It is found across the whole northern region of Europe and Asia. 

 Although never known in Britain in historic times, it is still occasionally seen in parts of the 

 Alps and in the Carpathians ; it is also common in the Caucasus. It is mainly a forest animal, 

 and very largely nocturnal ; therefore it is seldom seen, and not often hunted. If any enemy 

 approaches, the lynx lies perfectly still on some branch or rock, and generally succeeds in 

 avoiding notice. The lynx is extremely active; it can leap great distances, and makes its 





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LYKX. 

 This animal is a uDiformly coloured specie commou to India and Africa. 



