FAMILY FELID^. 51 



Total length, 40 ' 0. Length of fore paws, . . 3*5. 



Length of head, 7'0. Ditto of tail (vertebrae), 4'0. 



Ditto of fore legs, .. 13'0. Ditto (including fur), .. 5'0. 



Ditto of hind legs, . . 14" 0. Girth at forcshoulder, . 19 • 0. 



This is the Loup-cervier of the early French writers, and the Big Grey Wild-cat and Wol- 

 verene of the New- York hunters. It is not uncommon in the northern districts of the State, 

 preying chiefly on the northern hare and other small quadrupeds, and occasionally devouring 

 lambs, pigs, etc. It is a timid animal, and is easily killed. Its progress is said to be a suc- 

 cession of leaps, lighting on all four feet at once, but not advancing with great rapidity : Hence 

 it is probable that it usually obtains its prey by surprise. Contrary to the usual habits of its 

 family, it has no dread of water, but swims well and for a long distance. It breeds once a 

 year, and has two young at a time. Its flesh is tender, but insipid. Its fur is much esteemed, 

 and a skin usually sells for from three to four dollars. It is strictly a northern animal. Its 

 geographical range is between 66° and 43° north latitude. 



THE WILD CAT, OR BAY LYNX. 



Lyncus bufus. 



PLATE X. FIG. 1— (STATE COLLECTION.) 



The Bay Lyra. Penk. Arct. Zool. Vol. 1, p. 51. Id. Hist. Quad. Vol. 1, p. 303, pi. 60. 



MouTitain Lynx. Id. Arct. ZooI. Vol. 1, p. 51. (Variety?) 



FtU3 catus-ferus. LosKIEL, p. 83. 



Felurufa. Temminck, Monographie, p. 141. 



Wild Cat. GoDMiN, Am. Nat. Hist. Vol. 3, p. 239, (figure in vol. 1.) Emmons, Mass. Rep. 1838, p. 27 ; 1840, p. 34. 



Characteristics. A grey spot, bordered with black, behind the ears. Tail nearly as long as 

 the head. Reddish yellow in summer, ashy brown in winter. Soles naked. 



Description of an adult male. Head large and rounded. Body rather slender, with the 

 legs disproportionately long. Ears large, subrotund, scarcely acute, with long hairs within ; 

 2" 8 high and 3' 3 distant, with moderate black tufts scarcely an inch long. Whiskers nu- 

 merous, about 2"0 long, and for the most part white. Length of the head 6"0, breadth 4 "8, 

 Fore legs 10 '0 long, with five long, curved, acute, compressed, channelled claws of a greenish 

 white color; the internal claw placed higher up, and rather more curved and robust than the 

 others. Hind feet 12' long, with the soles uncovered, and with four claws resembling those 

 on the fore feet. Tail rather .slender, slightly curved upwards, and 5' 5 in length to the tips 

 of the hairs. The rufi" of elongated hairs surrounding the neck, indistinct, and not so conspi- 

 cuous as in the preceding species. 



Female and young with imperfect tufts on the ears. 



Color. Generally rufous, with various shades of brown, and darker along the dorsal line, 

 being deepest about the middle of the back. Head obscurely lineated, with black between 

 the ears. Eyelids black, margined with yellowish white. Sides of the nose white, witli four 



