10 GAME ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



reach of the settlements. All flesh eaters, from the skunk to the 

 huge grizzly, are taken by this means, and the vultures, ravens and 

 magpies suffer heavily by eating the remains of animals that have 

 been killed in this way. Indeed, were it not for some such means 

 of defence as this, the sheep raisers of Southern California and New 

 Mexico, and the cattle growers of Utah, Montana and Wyoming 

 would be quite powerless to protect their herds from the attacks 

 of many enemies which could only be driven off by a large force 

 of dogs and mounted men. As it is, however, each shepherd and 

 herder is provided as a matter of course with a certain amount of 

 strychnine, and all dead carcasses are poisoned, so that before long 

 the country is freed from the depredations of animals injurious to 

 stock. The period of gestation of the Cougar, as observed in the 

 Gardens of the Zoological Society of London, is ninety-seven days. 

 It brings forth in the spring from two to four young. 



Lynx ru/us. — Raf. Bay Lynx, Wildcat, Catamount, etc. 



The Bay Lynx is another species of wide range, inhabiting the 

 whole territory of the United States and extending into the British 

 Possessions on the north, and Mexico on the south. It is a small 

 animal, measuring from the nose to the tip of the tail only about 

 thirty-five inches, of which this latter organ occupies but five. In 

 color it somewhat resembles the Cougar, but the brown is more 

 nearly a red as is indicated by the name Bay. The tail is black at 

 the tip as are the inner surfaces of the ears. The color of the un- 

 der parts is white with some black spots. 



The Bay Lynx is a timid animal, preying chiefly upon grouse, 

 hare, and still smaller birds and mammals. It scarcely deserves 

 mention as a game animal. Its young, usually three in number, 

 are produced in April or May according to the latitude which the 

 animal inhabits. . They are said to be from the first utterly wild 

 and untamable. Variety niacidatus, Aud. and Bach., is found in 

 Texas, and \2lX\^\-^ fasciatus, Raf., in Washington Territory and the 

 extreme Northwest generally. 



Lynx canadensis. — Raf. Canada Lynx, Catamount, Loup Cerver, Lucifee. 



The Canada Lynx is a more northern species than either of the 

 preceding, and on the Atlantic coast scarcely enters the United 



