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FELIS CARACAL
THE CARACAL
FELIS CARACAL, Gilden. Nor. Comm. Acad. Petrop. vol xz, (1776) p. 600—Enl. Spt. Regu. Anim. (1777) p 624. sp. M—Sehrb
eth (1778) Th p. 415, as ex Thun Act. Petrol vl i (1782) —Grel. Syst Nat. (1788) vol pt yp. 82. 4p. 18—
mo ar Ay By GP Cay Hist Ne
925) vol. p 9—Grif Ani, King. (1825) voip. 499.—Jard, Nat. br
pliS—Lest Man. Mam. (1827) pp 18%, 491.—Pich, Syn, Mas
afl (1889) 1839-60)
Alge. (1888)
Soe (1868)
is, Quad. (708) ps 208 p 207, pe
Zoo. (181) p
CARACAL MELANOTIS, J. Gray, Cat. Manin. Brit Mus, (148) p. 46. Pr
LNNCHUS (UROLYNCHUS) CARACAL, Severs, Rer. Mag. Zool (188) p. 26,
3 Sos. (1867) p. 277A. Cat, Carn, Mar. (1860)
Has, South Asia and Afviea. Central India (Brive). Asia Minor, neighbourhood of Smyma,
Common in the
‘Taurus (DaxronD),
Te Caracal is conspicuous, even among the Lynxine group of this family, for the greatly elongated tufts that omament
the tips ofits ears, Iti found in West and Central Asia, being known as Twogde in Little Thibet and Heh ia Ladakh. It
is a native of Persia, where it is called Karrabshulak and Siyah Gosh, and is also met with in many parts of India, be
perhaps, more abundant in the west (ia Kandeish, Gujeat, and Cutch, according to Jerdon)
Te does not seem to dwell in
the Himalayas or in Bengals but the author named above
the was assured that this Lynx oceurs in the North-west
Provinees and the Punjab, and also that it has been killed near Delhi, Lahore, and other places. ‘The Caracal is also
native of the whole of Africa from Barbary to the Cape of Good Hope. ‘Temminck stats that this species is accustomed
to hunt in packs, pursuing and attacking game like wikd Dogs. In certain dstriets of India some of the native princes are
said to keep packs of these animals trained to hunt Peafowl and Hares, &.; and Captain Congsmaker has favoured me
with the following information regarding this species: —
The Lynx (Pele carweal)—Siyah Gosh Slacker) in Persian—is used by the Arabs and. Per
Antelopes, Peafowl, and the Demoiselle Crane, the Kulung (Culm) of Indi. Large flocks of these are fou
weather when the wheat, large millet, and the various oilseeds are ripe. ‘The Lynx is taken near them in a cart with
hood over its eyes; and when this is taken off, it with a few quick bounds, rashes at the Cranes often springing up and
palling them down as they rise from the ground. When it pulls its prey down it throws its whole body over the bird, 50
fs to keop its wings quiet, while it tears the neck with its teeth.” The practice of carrying the animal near its prey in a
‘ar, it will be observed, is the same a that employed when hunting the Antelope with the Cheetah. It is hardly necessary
to add that the Caracal hocomes easily domesticated, being the only member of the Lynxine group thet is susceptible of
being tamed,
Tike all Cats this species varies greatly in the lue ofits coat, some specimens bein
quite reddish, others
dark brown but this is nothing but an individual variation, and must not be
red as indicating any specie difference
Tn my Plate the dark and light styles are both represented,
eral colour light red, free from spots or markings, throat and underparts generally white; buck and tip of
cars black, 08 is also a spot on cach side of the upper lip.
Individuals of this species from different localities vary
greatly, some being very: dark
The tail, which is moderately long, is red like the body. Nose to roof of tal
34 inches, tail |