SUBJECT CONTINUED. 87 



peared, and in their place the ground was covered 

 with fine pasturage, and with a species of creeping 

 thistle, hardy enough to endure the trampling by 

 which the former herbage had been destroyed. 

 The insect, as well as the vegetable world was 

 affected, and the indigenous animals, including both 

 birds and beasts of prey, acquired new habits*. 

 Probably the same effect has been produced in 

 Paraguay, unnoticed by any naturalist, yet still 

 existing. 



The Canadian forests abound with a distinct 

 species of Lynx (Fells canadensis\ and those of the 

 United States, with a smaller kind (F. rufa\ to 

 which the name of American has been generally 

 given. Ocelots, also, range over the whole of that 

 vast continent; wild cats of different species, lurk in 

 their leafy citadels, and the black and red, with 

 crab wolves (Canis cancrivorus, C. jubatus, C. 

 lycaon), inhabit the Floridas, Paraguay, and Guiana. 



The Canadian Lynx is seen with his companions, 

 in the vast prairies of the Flatte; and when, 

 during night, they roam abroad for prey, they 

 venture very near the encampment of the tra- 

 veller. They then often join in packs, for the 

 purpose of chasing the deer, which they frequently 

 run down. Yet this is a difficult achievement, and 

 even their swiftness, and their cunning, are so often 

 unavailing, that they are reduced to the necessity of 

 eating wild plums and fruits, to appease their 

 hunger. Their bark resembles that of the do- 

 mestic dog, and is succeeded by a lengthened 

 scream. 



* SOUTHEY'S Brazil. 



