THE LYNX 317 



stealthily moving 011 a mouse, or sneaking through 

 the grass, or moving out on the limb of a tree in the 

 orchard, with crouching form, frequently remaining 

 motionless, then putting down its velvet feet slowly 

 and noiselessly, until at last it springs upon a bird — 

 anyone, I say, who has observed these performances 

 will have a ver}'^ good idea of how the wild-cat manoeu- 

 vres in the woods. It is extremely strong and agile, 

 and has been seen to spring into the air and strike 

 down a flying bird. It is a natural-born hunter, and 

 is especially fond of rabbits ; and so is the house cat. 

 I knew one that was harbored at a hotel in the Ken- 

 tucky highlands, which used to slip out into the garden 

 after birds ; and one day I saw it bring in a rabbit 

 almost as big as itself, and sneak under the porch to 

 serve it to its kittens. Wild-cats, like tame cats, de- 

 spise dogs. They will always ** spit " at a dog on sight 

 — that is, after they have found a safe refuge on a 

 limb. 



There is a whole lot of fun to be had in chasing bob- 

 cats. The dogs enjoy it fully as much as the sports- 

 men, although they are the ones that receive the dam- 

 age from the fighting. The sport is something like 

 coon hunting, and I am free to confess that I thor- 

 oughly enjoy that. Anyone who likes coon hunting 

 a fortiori will enjoy cat hunting. The " scrapping " be- 

 tween the dogs and cats is much finer. An old coon 

 makes an excellent fight, as everyone knows who has 

 tried coon hunting, but the wild-cat is a fiercer and 

 more skilled fighter, and accordingly furnishes more 

 sport. As in coc^n hunting, more than half the fun is 

 in giving the dogs a chance to fight and kill the game. 



