60* A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



specimens the ears have " a few long hairs, but not forming a tuft. 

 Colour of the body varies from dark brownish grey to yellowish ; limbs 

 and flanks are generally lighter coloured than the back. Transverse 

 bands are sometimes visible on the limbs. Tail ringed with black 

 towards the end, tip black. In some specimens the markings are con- 

 spicuous, in others absent. 



Hab. — Common all over India, ascending the Himalayas to 7,000 to 

 8,000 feet. Burmah, Ceylon, North- Western Asia, and Northern Africa. 



Length of life in captivity. 



Although living in a wild state, probably within half a mile of the 

 garden, it does not appear to thrive well here. The longest period 

 during which one lived in the garden has been only a little over five 

 years. 



Treatment in health and sickness, and transport. 



In all these respects it may be treated in the same way as a 

 Fishing-cat. 



Observations on its habits. 



In its habits it closely resembles the Fishing-cat ; those exhi- 

 bited were however found to be less addicted to spitting and snarling 

 than the Fishing-cats. 



(58) THE CARACAL. 



(FELIS CARACAL— Gilld.) 

 Hindi — Siah-gosh. 



Description. — Slender in form, with long limbs. An adult animal 

 measures, head and body, 26 to 30 inches, tail about 9 inches. General 

 colour reddish brown, without spots, below white. Back and tip of ears 

 black. Its principal features are the long pointed tufts of the ears. 

 Lynxes from different localities vary in colour, some being dark, others 

 lighter ; faint markings are sometimes visible. 



Sab. — Punjab, Sindh, North- Western and Central India. Outside 

 India it occurs in Mesopotamia, and perhaps in the highlands of 

 Persia, in Arabia and throughout a large part of Africa (Blanford). 



Length of life in captivity. 



The damp moist climate of Lower Bengal does not agree with 

 this animal, so that of the number of specimens exhibited none has 

 lived more than three years. 



Treatment in health. 



Sousing. — The specimens exhibited were mostly kept in the Kuch 

 Behar House (see page 66). Although the want of success in keeping 

 caracals does not appear to be due to any defects in the habitation^ it 

 is in contemplation to try the experiment of keeping them in isolated 

 cages. 



