MAMMALS FELIDAE LYNX RUTHS. 91 



In middle of dorsal region the hairs are almost entirely black beneath the surface, a separa 

 tion of the fur exhibiting a very slight base of lighter ashy on the fur, then black, and the 

 long stiff hairs tipped with pale brownish rusty. On the sides the soft wool is yellowish white 

 at base, then pale- sooty brown, then pale rusty. The coarse hairs are whitish at base and sub- 

 terminally with a ring and tip of black. In 245 there is much less black on the back, this 

 color in no case reaching to the roots. 



The lower parts of the sides show more gray and less rusty than in No. 245. 



There is an indistinct but rather light gray line down the anterior face of the hind legs, with 

 rufous on either side ; this is. not discernible in 245. The inferior velvety portion of the 

 posterior surface of the hind foot from the soles (inclusive) to the heel is of a rich, sooty black, 

 well distinguished from the rusty on the sides. This is also the case in less degree with the 

 fore foot. In 245 there is only a trace of this sooty tint. The ears seem considerably higher 

 and more acute. There is much more black on the inside face of the ear ; the grayish white 

 patch, instead of reaching almost to the anterior edge, scarcely invades the anterior half of the ear. 



In some other specimens from California the characteristics are more like those given for the 

 Atlantic species. The fur is softer, grayer, and the dark color of the back less distinct. These 

 were probably all killed in fall or winter. 



A skin of a wild cat from Florida, borrowed for examination from Mr. Savery, in some 

 respects differ from any other I have had an opportunity of examining. Its most conspicuous 

 characters are the gray color, prevalent on the upper parts and sides, to the exclusion of any 

 rufous tinge whatever, and the great distinctness of the lines of black on the back and head, 

 and of the dark spots on the outside of the limbs. There is a considerable mixture of black 

 hairs with the gray of the dorsal surface distributed uniformly ; but on the back are two or 

 three black longitudinal stripes, mostly continuous, but occasionally interrupted, and extending 

 from the shoulders to the root of the tail. There are no stripes on the neck, but those on the 

 top of the head, four in number, are very distinct, as also are those on the cheeks, and the four 

 through the line of whiskers. The terminal third of the tail is black above ; anterior to this 

 are three half rings of black ; the under surface and centre of tbe extreme tip are white. The 

 extero-anterior surface of the fore and hind legs are thickly crowded with distinct and clear 

 black blotches, which are smaller on the feet than on the legs. The inside of the arms and 

 thighs is very distinctly banded. The spots on the belly are also very conspicuous. 



This pattern of coloration is found in other specimens of wild cat before me, in which, how 

 ever, owing to the lighter and more rufous color of the spots of the legs, and the redder fur, 

 they are less conspicuous. I see nothing, however, to warrant the separation of this variety as 

 a species, as was done by Bafinesque ; but, upon the whole, I am not sure that this specimen 

 is not as well entitled as the Texan lynx to distinct rank as a variety. In this case it would 

 bear the name of Lynx rufus vax.floridanus, Kafinesque. The tail is rather long, measuring 

 six inches to the end of the hairs. 



In the study of the North American lynxes, although a considerable number of specimens 

 has been before me, I have found it difficult to come to satisfactory conclusions, owing to the 

 imperfect condition of some and the uncertainty as to date of collecting of others. It is well 

 known that this species, having a very wide range, varies much, not only with locality and 

 season, but those from different localities will vary much at the same time. Northern skins of 

 wild cats have generally longer and softer hair the year through than the southern, while, as 

 in the deer, the hair will have a reddish or bay tinge, which is replaced by a grayish in winter. 



