THE WILD-CATS. 223 



tween an eagle and a wild-cat. After a fierce struf^p^le, in which the 

 eagle was so badly wounded that he could not fly, the cat, badly scratched 

 and having one eye gouged out, was found lying dead. 



In parts where their destruction is necessary, the wild-cats are hunted 

 by dogs or caught in traps, and if a cat is " treed," the hunters shake it 

 off" as they would a racoon. These cats hunt just like common cats, and 

 mew and purr in the same way. They are not good swimmers, but are 

 not averse to taking to water. 



Audubon tried to domesticate a young wild-cat; it showed, however, 

 no disposition to improve its habits and manners, but became daily more 

 wild and vicious. 



THE TEXAS WILD-CAT. 



The Texas Wild-cat, Lynx maculatus. We quote again from Baird : 

 " Fur short and rather coarse, color light reddish-brown overlaid with 

 gray in winter, quite distinct darker spots on back and sides ; color on 

 throat paler than on sides ; beneath, white spotted ; inside of legs, 

 banded ; black patch at end of tail ; inner surface of ear black, with a 

 white patch ; an obscure dark line runs on each side of the neck, with 

 two round, black spots between their extremities ; the ears large and 

 pointed." Length from nose to root of tail, three feet; tail, six and a 

 half inches. This variety is found in Mexico, Texas, and California. 



THE RED CAT. 



The Red Cat, Lynx fasciatus. Fur very full and soft; back, chestnut- 

 brown, a little paler on sides and throat ; no spots or bands on the back ; 

 dusky spots beneath. Ears black inside, with slight grayish patch. Last 

 third of tail black on upper side. Size same as the common wild-cat. 



This variety was first described by Lewis and Clark in 1814 as the 

 " Tiger Cat." 



in.— GENUS CYN^ELURUS. 



This genus, CyN/ELURUS, which is by interpretation " Dog-cat," con- 

 tains only one species. The animals thus described well deserve their 

 name, for they indeed seem half-dog and half-cat. Catlike is the head 

 and long tail ; but the rest of the body is doglike, especially the long 



