90 



MAMMALIA. 





Fig. 34. — Felis Lynx. 



Lin.), twice the size of a large domestic Cat, and comparatively lower on the legs, is marked somewhat like the 

 Jaguar, but with a tendency to a linking of the spots into longitudinal bands, more or less observable in different 

 individuals.* F. Sumatranus and Bengalensis are not larger than a House-cat, but coloured like the foregoing ; 

 though individuals commonly occur of the same greyish ground-tint as the majority of the smaller species. A 

 beautiful European Cat, with the markings of the Leopard group, is the F. pardina, Oken, which inhabits the 

 mountains of Spain ; its tail, however, is short, as in the following. There are many others]. 

 Lynxes are short-tailed Cats, with mostly pencil-tufts to their ears, and fur generally spotted more or less dis- 

 tinctly : those of cold countries have the fur long. 

 A species little less than a Leopard (F. lynx, Lin.) 

 still inhabits the mountainous parts of Europe, 

 from Scandinavia to Spain and Naples, and, it is 

 said, the north of Africa also. [Prof. Nilsson dis- 

 tinguishes three large European species in Scan- 

 dinavia, and figures different varieties of each.] 

 The Canada Lynx is smaller, with very long fur, 

 which extends even under the toes ; [it is allied 

 to the Wild Cat of Britain. There are many 

 others, some, as the Pampas Cat (F.pajeros) grad- 

 ing into the next group. We can only notice 

 a handsome short-haired species, the Caracal of 

 Turkey and Persia, almost uniform bright vinous 

 red ; it is the true Lynx of the ancients. The 

 Chati (F. Serval, F. Cuv.), an elegant spotted 

 species, of slender form, and very high upon the 

 legs, may be approximated to this group, and 

 indeed has a moderately short and singularly 

 mobile tail : it inhabits Africa. Allied to it is the Chati (F . mitis), a native of South America. 



Approaching the domestic Cat in size, colour, and markings, are also numerous species, among which the 

 native Cat of Britain (fig. 35) may be particularized, distinguished by its tail not tapering as in the tame Cat; 

 it is also larger, but with much shorter intestinal canal, though it is probable that the length of intestine in the 

 common Cat may have been gradually induced by long-continued habituation to a less carnivorous regimen, 

 operating through many successive generations. The domestic Cat is referred by Temminck to his F. maniculata, a 

 species wild in Egypt ; but is probably a mingled race, derived from several distinct wild stocks : our author, in 

 his last edition, referred it to the European Wild Cat, but subsequently retracted his opinion : the Angora variety 



of it is perhaps the most remarkable, being 

 covered with long silky hair. Of the spotless 

 species, may be mentioned] 



The Cougar, Puma, or pretended Lion of 

 America (F. concolor, Lin.) (Fig. 36.) — Red [sil- 

 very or greyish-red], with small spots of a 

 slightly deeper colour, which are not easily per- 

 ceived [nor always present in the adults, and a 

 small black tuft at the end of the tail. Size 

 nearly that of a Leopard], from both Americas, 

 where it preys on Sheep, Deer, &c. [and has 

 been known, though very rarely, to attack 

 mankind. An allied species, redder, and with 

 shorter tail, exclusively from South America, is 

 known as F. unicolor; and there is a small 

 species also verv similar, the Eira of Azzara, 

 the tail of which is not tufted. The Jaguarondi 

 is another from the same locality, of medium 

 size, altogether of a blackish-brown, more or 

 and there is a deep reddish-brown Cat in India, scarcely larger than the 



Fig 85.— Wila Cat. 



less dark, and rather low on the legs 



« As a warning against relying too much upon the proverbially 

 uncertain temper of these eminently carnivorous animals, may be 

 mentioned » f, ct which occurred not long ago in France. A gentleman 

 had succeeded in taming an Ocelot, which for three years enjoyed 

 the range of his house and garden as freely as a domestic Cat, 

 appearing thoroughly reclaimed. One evening, however, at the fire- 

 side, when a child of three years old was playing with it, as it had 

 often done before, the animal, being irritated, seized the infant by 

 the throat, and killed it before assistance could be rendered. An 

 Instance has occurred in this country of a babe being attacked by a 

 tame Ferret. The Domestic Cat is undoubtedly more susceptible of 

 attachment than it has been generally described ; and it is surprising 

 to perceive how patiently it bears the rough handling of children. We 

 have seen it hail the return of persons it knew with as lively joy as 



any animal could well testify, and this in the case of individuals who 

 had never fed it: but it is understood, with what general truth may 

 perhaps be questioned, that while the Dog will mourn and even pine 

 to death over the body of its master, the Cat feels no compunction in 

 making it its prey : it is needless to observe, however, that the intel- 

 lect of the Cat is very much inferior to that of the Dog, on which 

 account some allowance may be granted. 



With respect to the Domestic Cat, also, another consideration may 

 be borne in mind, which is, that there can be little doubt that its 

 nature has been considerably modified by domestication, which lias 

 gradually rendered it less exclusively carnivorous than its wild con 

 geners. It is even remarkable that instances of the rapacity of this 

 I animal towards young children are not of frequent occurrence. — Ed. 



