168 



THE EUROPEAN LYNX. 



portions of the Asiatic and African continents. Arabia, the Cape and its vicinity, Egypt, 

 Nubia, and Barbary, are tn% habitations of this animal, which is also found spread over the 

 greater part of India and Persia. The Arabs call this animal Anak-el-ard. 



BY name, if not by sight, the common LYNX of Europe is familiar to us, and is known as 

 the type of a quick-sighted animal. The eyes of the Lynx, and the ears of the " Blind Mole," 

 are generally placed on a par with each other, as examples of especial acuteness of either 

 sense. 



The European Lynx is spread over a great portion of the Continent of Europe, being 

 found in a range of country which extends from the Pyrenees to Scandinavia. It is also found 

 in the more northern forests of Asia. 



The color of this animal is as variable as that of the caracal, or even more so, for the same 

 individual will change the hue of its fur according to the season of the year. During the 



EUROPEAN LYNX. Ln/nx uirgatus. 



colder months the fur becomes larger, fuller and more grizzled, the latter effect being produced 

 by a change in the tips of the hairs, which assume a grayish-white. The usual color of the 

 Lynx is a rather dark gray, washed with red, on which are placed sundry dark patches, large 

 and few upon the body, and many and small on the limbs. On the body the spots assume an 

 oblong or oval shape, but upon the limbs they are nearly circular. The tail of the Lynx is 

 short, being at the most only seven or eight inches in length, and sometimes extending only 

 six inches. The length of the body and head is about three feet. 



This animal resembles the caracal in its habits and mode of obtaining prey. Sheep often 

 fall victims to the Lynx, but it finds its chief nourishment among hares, rabbits, and other 

 small animals. Like the caracal it is an excellent climber of trees, and chases its prey among 

 the branches with ease and success. 



The fur of the Lynx is valuable for the purposes to which the feline skin is usually 

 destined, and commands a fair price in the market. Those who hunt the Lynx for the pur- 

 pose of obtaining its fur, choose the winter months for the time of their operations, as during 



