jg8 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



Commonly known in America by the name of " Wild Cat," 

 the Red Lynx was long ago described from Minnesota by 

 Carver as follows : " The Cat of the Mountains. This creature 

 is in shape much like a Cat, only much larger. The hair ot 

 fur resembles also the skin of that domestic animal ; the colour 

 however, differs, for the former is of a reddish or orange cast 

 but grows lighter near the belly. The whole skin is beautified 

 with black spots of different figures, of which those on the back 

 are long, and those on the lower-parts round. On the ears are 

 black stripes. The creature is nearly as fierce as a Leopard, 

 but will seldom attack Man." 



With this somewhat vague description may be contrasted the 

 detailed one given by Mr. C. I. Herrick, in his " Mammals of 

 Minnesota" (1892), which runs as follows : — "The base of the 

 fur is tawny-black, the middle buffy-yellow ; terminal portion 

 white, or white followed by a longer or shorter black band. 

 Ear-tips black ; pencil well developed. Below, the terminal 

 white portion is long, concealing the others. Thighs externally 

 spotted and lighter, obscurely barred within. The upper arm 

 is slightly barred externally, while internally there are several 

 wide black bars. In the middle of the back the whole base of 

 the fur is black, the tips only being white. The tail is tipped 

 with white. The ruff is moderately long, and composed of 

 rather stiff harsh hairs. The above description applies to the 

 winter pelage. As early as February the whole skin takes on 

 the rufous tint before nearly confined to the flanks. In spring 

 specimens the base of the fur is pale Vandyke-brown. In the 

 yearling the head is of nearly the same size as in the adult. 

 The colour seems independent of sex." Length of head and 

 body, 30 inches ; of tail, 6 inches. 



Distribution. — North America, as far south as Mexico. More 

 common southwards than to the north, and probably unknown 

 in the extreme north, 



