THE CANADIAN LYNX. 1 95 



which are usually concealed either in a cave, in a crevice 

 among fallen rocks, or in the hollow trunk of a large tree. In 

 spite of their ferocity, Lynxes, if taken sufficiently young, can 

 be readily tamed, and are susceptible of showing much attach- 

 ment to their owners. 



XLII. THE CANADIAN LYNX. FELIS CANADENSIS. 



Felis canadensis, Desmarest, Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat. vol. vi. 

 p. 1 08 (18 1 6) ; Elliot, Monograph of Felidae, pi. xxvii. 

 (1878-83) ; Mivart, The Cat, p. 425 (1881). 

 Lynx canadensis, Rafinesque, Amer. Month. Mag. vol. ii. p. 46 



(1817). 

 Lyncus canadensis, Gray, List Mamm. Brit. Mus. p. 46 (1843). 

 Lyncus borealis, De Kay, New York Zool. p. 5 (1842). 



Characters — As already mentioned, it seems highly probable 

 that this Lynx can only be regarded as a local race of the 

 preceding ; but since it is generally recognised by American 

 zoologists as a distinct species, it is provisionally allowed to 

 retain that rank in the present work. Professor Mivart, who 

 regards the Canadian Lynx merely as a variety, states that its 

 skull is indistinguishable from that of the common Lynx ; and 

 that the chief difference from the spotted variety of the latter 

 consists in the inferior size of the American form, the length 

 of the head and body being about 30 inches, and that of the 

 tail 5 inches. Some writers are, however, of opinion that the 

 spotted Felis borealis of Temminck, from the north of Europe, 

 should be separated from the typical F. lynx, and united with 

 F. canadensis, which would then have a circumpolar distribu- 

 tion* 



Distribution. — North America, as far south as Pennsylvania 

 and California. 



Habits.— In habits the Canadian Lynx apparently agrees in 



* See W. L. Sclater, Cat. Mamm. Ind. Mils. pt. ii. p. 233 (1891). 



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