PANTHERS, AND OUR OTHER CATS. 413 



as they say, only two to North America! I am surely right 

 with regard to the old world, but whether they are, upon this 

 knotty point, right as to this, we will leave for future investi- 

 gation to determine. Be scientific truth on which side of the 

 controversy it may, the animal itself is a very interesting 

 one, and intimately associated with the legend and character, 

 not only of the pioneers, but of the older population of our 

 wide country, for it is found every where, from the middle 

 to the extreme southern and southwestern limits of settlement. 

 The Canada lynx, which is so frequently identified with it, 

 extends from the mountains of Pennsylvania to the northern 

 districts of Canada. With regard to the habits of the Lynx 

 rufus, the authors of the Quadrupeds of America say : 



The general appearance of this species conveys the idea 

 of a degree of ferocity, which cannot with propriety be con- 

 sidered as belonging to its character, although it will, when 

 at bay, show its sharp teeth, and with outstretched claws and 

 infuriated despair, repel the attacks of either man or dog, 

 sputtering the while and rolling its eyes like the common cat. 

 It is, however, generally cowardly when attacked, and always 

 flies from its pursuers if it can ; and although some anecdotes 

 have been related to us of the strength, daring and fierceness 

 of the animal, such as its having been known to kill, at 

 different times, a sheep, a full grown doe, attack a child in 

 the woods, etc., yet in all the instances that have come 

 under our own notice, we have found it very timid, and 

 always rather inclined to beat a retreat, than to make an 

 attack on an animal larger than a hare or young pig. 



Dr. Bachman, Associate Editor of the Quadrupeds of 

 America, describes with some minuteness and reality the most 

 common mode of hunting the wild cat by daylight, when 

 undertaken in set fashion by the southern gentry, with all the 

 appliances of "hound and horn," etc. ; but his chase is wound 

 up by the shooting of the exhausted animal by some one of 

 the huntsmen. 



