FE LI S CARACAL
TH E CARACAL.
FELIS CARACAL, Güldenst. Nov. Comm. Acad. Petrop. vol.'xx. (1776) p. 500.—Erxl. Syst. Regn. Anim. (1777) p. 524. sp. 14.—Schreb.
Saugeth. (1 7 7 8 ) Th. m. p. 413, tab. ex.—Thunb. Act. Petropol. vol. iii. (1 7 8 2 ).—Gmel. Syst. Nat. (1788) vol. i. pt. 1, p. 82. sp. 18 —
Desm. Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat. (1 8 1 6 ) p. 105.—Id. Mamm. (1820) p. 226. no. 352, pi. 97.,fig. 2, and var. A, B, C.—F. Cuv. Hist. Nat.
Mamm. (18 2 2 ) vol. ii. pi. 130.—Cuv. Ossem. Foss. (1825) vol. iv. p. 439.—Griff. Anim. King. (18 2 5 ) vol., iv. p. 439.—Jard. Nat. Libr.
vol. xvi. p. 251, pi. xxx.—Temm. Mon. Mamm. (1 8 2 7 ) vol.'i. p. 118.—Less. Man. Mamm. (18 2 7 ) pp. 181, 491.—Fisch. Syn. Mamm.
(18 2 9 ) p. 210. sp. 2 7—Smuts, Dissert. Zool. (1832) p. 2 9—Less. Compl. Buff. (1839) vol'. i. p. 411.—Bläinv. Ost^og. ( 1839- 64)
vol. ii. Atl. pis. x., xi., xii., xiii., xiv.—Less. Nouv. Tab. Regn. Anim. (1 8 4 2 ) p. 55. sp. 542.^Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. vol. xi.
(1 8 4 2 ) p. 759.—Loche, Expl. Seien. Alg6r. (18 5 0 ) pi. 2.—Gerv. Hist. Nat. Mamm. (1865) p. 92.—Loche, Cat. Mamm. Alger. (1858)
p. 8. sp. 15.—Sclat. W o lfs Zool. Sketch. (18 6 1 ) pi.—Blyth, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1 8 6 3 ) p. 186. sp. 20.—Tristr. Proc. Zool. Soc. (1866)
p. 92. sp. 65.—Jerd. Mamm. Ind. (18 6 7 ) p. 113. sp. 116.—Danf. & Alst. Proc. Zool Soc. (1877) p. 273.
PERSIAN LYNX, Penn. Hist. Quad. (17 9 3 ) p. 305. sp. 207, pi.
LYNX CARACAL, Fisch. Zoogn. (1 8 1 4 ) p. 250. sp. 15.
CARACAL MELANOTIS, J. E. Gray, Cat. Mamm. Brit. Mus. (1842) p. 46.—Id. Proc. Zool. Soc. (1867) p. 277.—Id. Cat. Carn. Mamm (18691
p; 38.
LYNCHUS (UROLYNCHUS) CARACAL, Severtz. Rev. Mag. Zool. (1858) p. 389.
H a b . South Asia and Africa. Central India ( B l y t h ) . Asia Minor, neighbourhood of Smyrna. Common in the
Taurus (D a n f o b d ) .
T h e Caracal is conspicuous, even among the Lynxine group of this family, for the greatly elongated tufts that ornament
the tips of its ears. It is found in West and Central Asia, being known as Tsogde in Little Thibet and Ech in Ladakh. It
is a native of Persia, where it is called Karrali-bdak dndSigah Gosh, and is also met with in many parts of India, being,
perhaps, more abundant in the west (in Kandeish, Gujrat, and Cutch, according to Jerdon). It does not seem to dwell in
the Himalayas or in Bengal; but the author named above says he was assured that this Lynx occurs in the North-west
Provinces and the Punjab, and also that it has been killed near Delhi, Lahore, and other places. The Caracal is also a
native of the whole of Africa from Barbary to the Cape of Good Hope. Temminek states that this species is accustomed
to hunt in packs, pursuing and attacking game like wild Dogs. In certain districts of India some of the native princes are
said to keep packs of these animals trained to hunt Peafowl and Hares, &c.; and Captain Congsmaker has favoured me
with the following information regarding this species:—
“ The Lynx (Felis caracal)— Siyah Gosh (black-ear) in Persian—is used by the Arabs and Persians for hunting small
Antelopes, Peafowl, and the Demoiselle Crane, the Kulung (Culm) of India. Large flocks of these are found in the cold
weather when the wheat, large millet, and the various oil-seeds are ripe. The Lynx is taken near them in a cart with a
hood over its eyes; and when tins is taken off, it, with a few quick bounds, rushes at the Cranes, often springing up a n d
pulling them down as they rise from the ground. When it pulls its prey down it throws its whole body over the bird, so
as to keep its wings quiet, while it tears the neck with its teeth.” The practice of carrying the animal near its prey in a
cart, it will be observed, is the same as that employed when hunting the Antelope with the Cheetah. I t is hardly necessary
to add that the Caracal becomes easily domesticated, being the only member of the Lynxine group that is susceptible of
being tamed. Like all Cats, this species varies greatly in the hue of its coat, some specimens being quite reddish, others
dark brown; but this is nothing but an individual variation, and must not be regarded as indicating any specific difference.
In my Plate the dark and light styles are both represented.
General colour light red, free from spots or markings, throat and underparts generally white; back and tip of
ears black, as is also a spot on each 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 tail
34 inches, tail 13.