LYNXES 



397 



The Fishing Cat, F. vivernna, of India and China, is a])out 

 3 feet 6 inches including the tail. Its black spots upon a grey- 

 brown ground have a tendency to form longitudinal lines. It is 

 in fact, on Elmer's theory, a case of longitudinal stripes Ijreaking 

 up into spots. It differs from the bulk of Cats by preying upon 

 fish, though it is not known how it catches them. It also feeds 

 upon the large snail Amjmllaria. In addition to these there are 

 twenty-four species of Cats found in the Old World, mainly in the 

 Oriental region, of small to moderate size. 



The European Lynx, F. lynx, has rather long legs, a sliort tail, 



Fig. 196. — European Lynx. Fflis h/nr. x yV. 



and tufted, pointed ears. It has only two premolars in the upper 

 jaw instead of the usual three. It seems to be doul)tful wliether 

 the Asiatic Lynx can be distinguished from the European, but 

 the Spanish form, F. imrdvna, does appear to be distinct. The 

 Common Lynx, sometimes called F. canadensis, also ranges into 

 America, where some otlier forms exist, known by the specific 

 names of F. rufa and F. haileyi. 



In America there are altogether sixteen species of Cats, if 

 we allow tliree species of Lynx, none of which, however, does 

 Dr. Mivart allow to be different from the European and Asiatic 

 Lynx {F. lynx). 



