MAMMALIA. 



LYNX CANADENSIS (Desm.) Raf. 



Canada Lynx. 



The Lynx is, and so far as I can learn, has always been a rather 

 rare inhabitant of this region. It is most often met with on the 



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Champlain or eastern side of the Woods, but is nowhere common. 



The Lynx is called " Loup Cervier " by the French Canadians, 

 and has been erroneously termed Carcajou, or Wolverine, by some 

 of the older hunters in this State. 



It preys upon the northern hare, and such other small mammals 

 as it can catch, and upon the Ruffed Grouse and Spruce Partridge. 

 It has also been known to devour pigs, lambs, and young fawns, but 

 the accounts of its attacking full-grown deer are not to be credited. 



Its haunts are in the deep forests and burnt districts, remote from 

 the paths of man ; and consequently it rarely intrudes upon the 

 barn -yard. 



Its ordinary gait when in a hurry is a long gallop, like that of the 

 hare, and it is said to swim well. 



The female commonly has two young at a birth, her lair being 

 usually located in a cavern or hollow tree. 



The older naturalists, having little or no personal acquaintance 

 with the animals of which they wrote, were often led into grave 

 errors when treating of their habits, and even Thomas Pennant, 

 writing in 1770, said, of the present species, that it " is long lived : 

 climbs trees : lies in wait for the deer which pass under, falls on 

 them, and seizing on the jugular vein soon makes them its prey : 

 will not attack mankind, but is very destructive to the rest of the 

 animal creation : the furs of these animals are valuable for their soft- 

 ness and warmth : The ancients celebrated the great quick- 

 ness of its sight ; and feigned that its urine was converted into a 

 precious stone." * 



* Synopsis of (Quadrupeds, 1771, pp. 187-188. 



