196 LLoYD’s NATURAL HISTORY. 
all respects with its relatite 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 J. 
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 Icng 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 lke 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) bye! 
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 te follow the Wood-Hare (Lepus sy/vaticus); and it is — 
