i Q 6 Lloyd's natural histo&y. 



all respects with its relative. In his "Mammals of the Adiron- 

 dack Region," Dr. Hart Merriam writes that " it preys upon 

 the northern Hare and such other small animals 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 dis- 

 tricts, 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." 



After mentioning that it is found on the Mackenzie River 

 as far north as latitude 66°, Sir John Richardson writes that 

 this Lynx " is a timid creature, incapable of attacking any of 

 the larger quadrupeds, but well armed for the capture of the 

 American Hare, on which it chiefly preys. Its large paws, 

 slender loins, and long but thick hind-legs, with large buttocks, 

 scarcely relieved by a short thick tail, give it an awkward, 

 clumsy appearance. It makes a poor fight when it is surprised 

 by a hunter on a tree, for though it spits like a Cat, and sets 

 its hair up, it is easily destroyed by a blow on the back with 

 a slender stick, and it never attacks a man. Its gait is by 

 bounds, straightforward, with the back a little arched, and 

 lighting on all the feet at once. It swims well, and can cross 

 the arm of a lake two miles wide, but it is not swift on land. 

 It breeds once a year, and has two young at a time. The 

 natives eat its flesh, which is white and tender, but rather 

 flavourless, much resembling that of the American Hare." 



Every two to four years there appears a sudden increase in 

 the number of Lynxes in parts of North America; these animals 

 associating at such times in troops, and forsaking their favourite 

 haunts t£ follow the Wood-Hare (Lepus $ylvaiicus)\ and it is 



