216 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



itronger and more ferocious. It has been known to at- 

 tack a Hound, and inftantly tear it to pieces. 



This animal is extremely difficult to tame ; but when 

 taken young, and reared with great caution, it may be 



trained to the chafe. It is ufed in taking the fmall- 



er fort of animals, in which it is very fuccefsful ; but it 

 is active only in the purfuit of thofe that are too fee- 

 ble for refiftance, or too timid to exert their powers. 

 Whenever it meets with one that is fuperior to it in 

 ftrength, it lofes its courage, and gives up the chafe. — 

 It is likewife employed in catching birds ; fuch as cranes, 

 pelicans, peacocks, &c. ; which it furprizes with fingular 

 addrefs. — When it has feized its prey, it holds it faft in 

 its mouth, and lies upon it for fome time quite motion- 

 lefs. 



There are fome varieties in this animal. — The face of 

 the Nubian Caracal is rounder j the ears black on the 

 outfide, interfperfed with filver-coloured hairs; on the 

 bread, belly, and infides of the thighs, there are fmall 

 bright-yellow fpots; and it has the Mule crofs on the 

 withers, like raoft of the Barbary Caracals. 



In Lybia, there are Caracals with white ears, tufted 

 at the end with thin black hairs : They have white tails, 

 the extremities of which are furrounded with four black 

 rings and on the hind part of each leg, there are four 

 black fpots. They are fmall, not exceeding the fize of a 

 domeftic Cat, 



We have now gone through all the principal varieties 

 which conftitute this numerous race ; in all of which, as 

 has been already obferved, from the Lion to the common 

 Cat, we may perceive a ftriking fimilitude in difpofition 3 



