THE LYNX. 433 



struck him between the ears. The French colonists desig- 

 nate him as the Pecsho, or Le Chat. The Indians of the 

 Northwest call him the Tenas-Puss-Puss. The home of the 

 Lynx is found among the rocks, caves, and hollow tree- 

 trunks. The female brings forth from one to four kittens, 

 usually in April. 



The principal food of the Lynx is the rabbit, or cotton- 

 tail, small birds and animals of all kinds. He affects the 

 heads of the grouse in particular. A small Deer is a much- 

 cherished dainty. The Cougar contributes unwittingly in 

 keeping his cousin' s larder supplied with Deer, sheep, pigs, 

 and beef. What the Cougar leaves carefully hidden away 

 in a secure place for future reference, the Lynx as carefully 

 unearths and feasts upon. 



The Lynx has been known to associate with the domestic 

 cat. A beautiful specimen of the latter lies on my rug at 

 the present writing, whose grandfather on the mother's side 

 is believed to have been a full-blood Lynx. The specimen 

 in question shows all the markings of her grandfather 

 except the tufted and penciled ears and the heavy limbs. 

 She is a gentle, affectionate, and intelligent animal. The 

 children can tease her with impunity; but game must never 

 be allowed near her, for when her teeth close on a game bird, 

 her wild instincts are aroused. She is then a fury, and will 

 fight to the death. 



While cleaning some grouse one day, several of them 

 being laid out on the table, she came purring up, rubbing 

 her arched back caressingly against my knee, when she 

 got her eyes on the birds. She seized one in her teeth, and 

 started to make off with it to the bushes. I seized her by 

 the tail and attempted to take the bird from her, when all 

 her wild instincts sprung into instant play. Her fur 

 turned the wrong way, her tail bushed out, her sharp, 

 white claws were displayed, while her eyes blazed with 

 fury. Fighting like a demon, she clung to the grouse 

 with her sharp teeth. I became thoroughly indignant, 

 lifted her aloft, and banged her down on a log with consid- 

 erable force; so heartily, indeed, that the pheasant rolled 



28 



