220 CARNIVORA. 



who hunt the lynx for the purpose of obtaining its fur, choose the winter 

 months for the time of their operations, as during the cold season the 

 lynx possesses a richer and a warmer fur than is found upon it during 

 the warm summer months. 



The Southern Lvnx, Lynx pardinus, is a smaller but more beautiful 

 animal, found in Spain and Portugal. Its fur is of a ruddy chestnut color, 

 with black spots and stripes, and from these leopard-like markings it 

 derives its scientific appellation. Its flesh is regarded in Spain as a 

 great delicacy ; it is beautifully white and tastes like veal. Madrid 

 receives yearly about three hundred lynx-skins, which are made into 

 caps much admired by gipsies, stableboys, and bull-fighters. The name 

 of " Loup-cervier," sometimes given to it, probably originated from its 

 howling like a wolf during the night. It nimbly climbs trees in pursuit 

 of prey. Martens, ermines, hares, and rabbits also enter into its ali- 

 mentation. It does not, however, eat the flesh of large victims, unless 

 its hunger is extreme ; but generally is satisfied by sucking out the 

 brain. 



Taken young, it becomes accustomed to captivity, and is fond of being 

 caressed ; but it will return to its wild life if opportunity offers, so really 

 never becomes attached to its master. It is an extremely cleanly animal, 

 and like the cat, passes a large portion of its time in washing and cleansing 

 its fur. 



THE BOOTED LYNX. 



The Booted Lynx, Lynx caligatus, derives its name from the appear- 

 ance of its hind-legs, which are covered with black hair. The general 

 tint of the fur is gray, plentifully besprinkled with black hairs. It is 

 found in the southern parts of India and the greater part of Africa, from 

 Egypt and Morocco to the Cape. It is very probable that the Booted 

 Lynx is not a species, but only a variety of the Persian Lynx. 



THE CANADIAN LTNX. 



The Polar or Canadian Lynx, Lyrix Canadensis (Plate X), is called 

 by the French Canadians Lc Chat or PccsJioo. It is the largest of the 

 American lynxes, and sometimes attains the length of four feet, including 

 the tail. It is one of the most important fur-bearing animals of the con- 

 tinent ; the hair is longer and thicker than in the European lynxes, the 



