Canada Lynx 



Wild cats are at all times shy and exceedingly cautious 

 about showing themselves, but are savage fighters when cornered 

 or defending their kittens; a dog that offers to molest them is 

 pretty certain to be severely used before he is allowed to es- 

 cape. In thinly settled towns wild cats will occasionally raid 

 the farmyards and carry off turkeys and chickens, but as a 

 general thing they confine themselves to wild game. It is said 

 that when the country was new they had a habit of following 

 the flocks of wild turkeys from place to place, lying in ambush 

 to waylay them as they fed among the beech woods and 

 thickets. 



In distant sheep pastures among the hills wild cats might 

 easily kill lambs and carry them off, or even pull down old 

 sheep, but I cannot learn that any such ravages have ever been 

 charged to them. 



This may possibly be due to the fact that when a farmer 

 finds that any of his lambs have been killed, he prefers to lay 

 the blame on stray dogs, knowing that the town is obliged to 

 pay him for all such damages, and does not assume responsi- 

 bility for the misconduct of the wild beasts in the woods. 



Eastern Varieties of the Wild Cat 



Wild Cat. Lynx ruffus (Guldenstaedt). Range and description 



as above. 

 Florida Wild Cat. L. ruffus floridanus (Rafinesque). Similar to 



the preceding but darker with stronger markings. 

 Range. Florida. 

 Nova Scotia Wild Cat. L. gigas Bangs. Much stouter and larger 



than L. ruffus, colour darker and blacker above. 

 Range. Nova Scotia. 



Canada Lynx 



Lynx canadensis Kerr 

 Called also "Loup Cervier." 



Length. 40 inches. 



Description. Feet much larger than in the wild cat, tail shorter, 

 fur much longer and looser. Colour light gray mottled with 

 brownish, caused partly by the dark bases to the hairs, 



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