THE LYNXES. 



219 



It is a peculiarly ferocious and surly animal, wearing a perpetual 

 expression of malevolence, and always appearing to be, as it truly is, 

 ready for a snarl and a bite. 



It is said to hunt in packs occasionally like wolves or wild dogs, and 

 it possesses very great strength in comparison to its size, being capable 

 at the same time of making surprising springs and of climbing trees. 



THE EUROPEAN LYNX. 



The Common Lynx, Lynx vulgaris, Mzs a strong beard and a short 

 rudimentary tail. A full-grown lynx attains the length of three feet, or 

 even three and a half feet, the tail measuring six to eight inches. The 

 animal has a very powerful, compact figure, strong limbs, paws resem- 

 bling those of the leopard, long ears ending in black hairs an inch and a 

 quarter long. The lur is thick and soft, forming on the face a white 

 beard which hangs down in two points ; its color is usually reddish-gray 

 and grayish-brown mixed, and marked on the head, neck and back with 

 darker spots ; the inside of the ear is white. The tail is thickly covered 

 with hair, and the latter half is hilack. Its coat is shorter in summer and 

 reddish in hue, but Vjecomcs longer and whiter in winter. The varieties 

 of color are very numerous; indeed, scarcely two individuals are pre- 

 cisely alike. 



However common this animal may have been in the Middle Ages, it 

 is now comparatively rare; and Brehm states that the last lynx in Ger- 

 many was killed in 1846. It is found, however, in Hungary and Russia, 

 and is represented by a kindred species in the -South of Europe. 



The lynx was known to the ancients; the Greeks consecrated it to 

 Bacchus, and Pliny has placed to its credit several absurd stories. 

 Among others, he endows it with the faculty of seeing through walls ; 

 hence the expression Lynx-eyed, which is adopted in our language to 

 designate very keen vision. 



This animal resembles the caracal in its habits and mode of obtaming 

 prey. Sheep often fall victims to the lynx, but it finds its chief nourish- 

 ment among hares, rabbits, and other small animals. Like the caracal it 

 is an excellent climber of trees, and chases its prey among the branches 

 with ease and success. 



The fur of the lynx is valuable for the purposes to which the feline 

 skin is usually destined, and commands a fair price in the market. Those 



