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 (Guldenstedt). 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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