210 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 
preys largely on the several species of grouse. The lynx 
will kill foxes, and it is claimed that deer and caribou are 
sometimes attacked. 
Bobcat or Bay Lynx.—This close relative of the Canada 
lynx is slightly smaller than the latter, and its fur is of a 
dark-brown colour; it lacks the long black ear-tufts, and 
only the upper side of the tip of the tail is coloured black. 
It is confined to the east, and in Nova Scotia a distinct 
variety, commonly called the wildcat, occurs. In many 
places in Nova Scotia the wildcat is destructive to sheep, 
for which reason it is destroyed whenever possible. Like 
its near relative it is an enemy of ground-game such as 
grouse. 
Foxes.—All the species of foxes, particularly the red fox, 
are destructive to our native game-birds. 
PREDATORY BIRDS 
The Great Horned Owl.—While most of the owls are bene- 
ficial as the destroyers of noxious rodents, such as mice and 
moles, the great horned owl is one of the most destructive 
of the large predatory birds. The various subspecies of 
great horned owl are found from Nova Scotia, where it is 
known as the ‘‘cat-owl,”’ owing to the ear-like tufts of 
feathers on its head, to British Columbia, and throughout 
the northern forests to the limit of tree growth. Its home 
is the heavily forested and unsettled regions. But when 
its food supplies become reduced it migrates southward, and 
during recent years there have been large numbers of these 
birds killed in the most southern portions of its range. It 
is a great enemy of grouse and other game-birds, and is 
detested by the farmer on account of its destructive raids 
on poultry. 
Goshawk.—This hawk is undoubtedly the greatest de- 
stroyer of game-birds of all the species of hawks, most of 
