Feb., 1912. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — ^ Cory. 279 



extremely fond of the Valerian plant ; that they lie on their backs and 

 play with a string; that they torment a wounded mouse and do not kill 

 it for a time, knowing it cannot escape, but that they kill a captured 

 bird at once; he also infoniis us that the males wander forth at night 

 and at certain times, ''commonly called cat-wralling," they have a 

 "peculiar dire full voyce.'' 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 



Size large; tail more than 15 inches long; three premolars and one molar on each 

 side of upper jaw. Genus FELIS, p. 279. 



Size medium; tail less than 15 inches long; only two premolars and one molar on 

 each side of upper jaw. Genus LYNX, p. 286. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



GROUP 1. Tail more than 15 inches long; total length more than 60 inches; pre- 

 3-3 



molars ; total teeth to. 



2-2 "^ 



Size large; tail long; general color tawny or grayish brown. 



Panther or Cougar. 

 Felis coiiguar, p. 280. 



GROUP 2. Tail less than 15 inches long; total length less than 50 inches; premolars 



2-2 



; total teeth 28. 



2-2 



Color grayish; feet very large; tail less than 5 inches long (to end of tail bone); 

 no brown band or collar on throat; ear tufts usually 1.50 to 2 inches long; 

 end of tail wholly black. Canada Lynx, Lynx canadensis, p. 287. 



Color pale rufous brown mi.xed with grayish, more or less dark spots or streaks on 

 head and legs; throat with distinct pale brown collar; belly white, usually 

 with more or less dusky spots; end of tail not entirely black, the under side 

 being white. Wild Cat, Bay Lynx. Lynx ruff us, p. 291. 



Subfamily FELINiE. 



Genus FELIS Linnaeus. 



Felis Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., X ed., I, 1758, p. 41. Type Felis catus Linn. 

 Body comparatively slender and long; tail long, more than j4 total 

 length; face short and rounded; ears not tufted; claws completely 

 retractile; zygomata wide; bullae large; three premolars on each side 

 of upper jaw; upper carnassial with distinctly cusped inner ttibercle; 

 other characters as given for the family. 



Dental formula: I. ^^» C. ^"^ Pm. ^^, M. ^^=30. 

 3-3 i-i 2-2 i-i" 



