442 THE CARNIVORES 



to the northward of the Rio Grande, they are, with the exception of the puma, the 

 sole representatives of the Cat family. Their range in the New World extends 

 further to the southward than in the Old World, as it there reaches to Southern 

 California and the Rio Grande. 



The whole of the true lynxes, whether we regard them as species or varieties, 

 agree with the caracal in the form of the skull, the number and structure of the 

 teeth, the black tufts to the ears, and the relatively-long legs. They differ 

 however, by their stouter build, by the ruff of long hair fringing the throat, and the 

 shorter tail, which is less than one-fourth the length of the head and body. They 

 are further characterized by the softness and thickness of their beautiful fur, which 

 is frequently marked with spots, and is highly valued by furriers. 



Commencing with the true northern lynx of the Old World, we 

 Northern Lynx find ^^ tfae color Qf ^ fuf varies from a pale sandy gray> Qr 



isabelline tint, to a rufous fawn washed with gray ; some European skins being 

 ferruginous red. The under parts of the body are white. Although there is a 

 great amount of local variation with regard to the presence of spots on the winter 

 coat, it appears from the researches of Mr. Blanford that in the summer dress the 

 fur of the body is always marked with small black spots. In some instances, per- 

 haps in young animals only, these spots continue during the winter. This, how- 

 ever, appears to occur only among the lynxes of Europe ; those of Asia having the 

 winter dress without spots, except on the flanks and limbs, while they may be 

 also wanting there. The hairs of the fur vary in color in different parts of their 

 length, and are tipped with black. The ears are gray on the outsides, with black 

 margins, tips, and tufts. Occasionally the under parts of the body are spotted. 

 The length of a full-grown lynx, according to Mr. Blanford, is thirty-three inches 

 exclusive of the tail, which measures only seven and three-fourths inches ; but Pro- 

 fessor Mivart says that the length of the head and body may be upwards of forty 

 inches. 



The lynx now inhabits the northern districts of Sweden, Norway, and Russia ; 

 but appears to have been exterminated from the forest districts of Central Europe, 

 where it was formerly common. A lynx was, however, killed in the Haute Loire, 

 France, in the year 1822, and a second in Wurttemberg in 1846. Eastward the 

 lynx extends through the greater part of Asia, north of the Himalayas, ranging 

 through Tibet into Ladakh, and occurring in the upper Indus valley as far west- 

 ward as Gilgit. 



In Europe the lynx is a forest-dwelling animal, being an expert climber, and 

 often found in trees. The lynx of Tibet, distinguished by Blyth as the isabelline 

 lynx (F. isabellina), is, however, an inhabitant of a barren country, and dwells in 

 open ground among rocky districts. It is of a paler color than the European 

 variety, with shorter hair on the soles of its feet. This difference of coloration is, 

 however, as pointed out by Mr. Blanford, doubtless due to the difference of its sur- 

 roundings ; this being confirmed in a remarkable manner by the lynx found in the 

 Gilgit district, where a certain amount of forest occurs, which is intermediate in 

 coloration between the European and Tibetan varieties. The Turkestan lynx re- 

 sembles the one from Gilgit. 



