CHAPTER XIII 



WORK AND SPORT IN THE UPPER REACHES OF THE 

 GANDER AND GULL RIVERS 



During the night we were serenaded by a lynx, which 

 kept up an unearthly caterwaul at intervals. It had doubt- 

 less smelt the meat and was calling to its partner. 



Nearly all white men as well as the Indians say that 

 there were no lynxes in Newfoundland fifteen years ago, 

 and that they came to the island about this time from 

 Labrador by means of the ice bridge at the straits of 

 Belleisle. It is also said that as the lynx entered so the 

 wolves departed. But I do not think that this view is 

 correct, for as long ago as 1622 Captain Whitbourne noted 

 the presence of "leopards" in the island and subsequent 

 writers also mention the " wild cats." 



Doubtless they were very scarce until recent years, but 

 now they are the most abundant of all the carnivora in the 

 island, and do much damage to the game.^ They live to 

 a large extent on the small varying hare and grouse, seldom 

 touching carrion until forced to do so by extreme hunger. 

 Everywhere one sees their tracks on the sandy shores of 

 the lakes, and at night and early morning I have often 

 heard their screaming caterwaul. He is a sly silent beast 

 is A-bak-sigan, the shadow, and his retiring habits hide 

 him from the gaze of man. Of all animals he is the easiest 



' I have little doubt that the great increase in the number of lynxes is due to the 



introduction of the small varying hare, which furnishes a good supply of food at all 



seasons. Animals which are well fed always breed more regularly and have large 



families than those which are only just able to support life. 



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