43 8 CARNIVORES. 



body is always marked with small black spots. In some instances, perhaps in young- 

 animals only, these spots continue during the winter; This, however, appears to 

 occur only among the lynxes of Europe ; those of Asia having the winter dress 

 without spots, except on the flanks and limbs, while they may be also wanting 

 there. The hairs of the fur vary in colour in different parts of their length, and 

 are tipped with black. The ears are grey on the outsides, with black margins, tips, 

 and tufts. Occasionally the under-parts of the body are spotted. The length of a 

 full-grown lynx, according to Mr. Blanford, is 33 inches exclusive of the tail, 

 which measures only 7f inches ; but Professor Mivart says that the length of the 

 head and body may be upwards of 40 inches. 



The lynx now inhabits the northern districts of Sweden, Norway, and Russia ; 

 but appears to have been exterminated from the forest districts of Central Europe, 

 where it was formerly common. A lynx was, however, killed in the Haute Loire, 

 France, in the year 1822, and a second in Wiirttemberg in 1846. Eastward the lynx 

 extends through the greater part of Asia, north of the Himalaya, ranging through 

 Tibet into Ladak, and occurring in the upper Indus valley as far westwards as Gilgit. 



In Europe the lynx is a forest-dwelling animal, being an expert climber, and 

 often found in trees. The lynx of Tibet, distinguished by Blyth as the isabelline 

 lynx (F. isabellina), is, however, an inhabitant of a barren country, and dwells in 

 open ground among rocky districts. It is of a paler colour than the European 

 variety, with shorter hair on the soles of its feet. This difference of coloration is, 

 however, as pointed out by Mr. Blanford, doubtless due to the difference of its 

 surroundings ; this being confirmed in a remarkable manner by the lynx found in 

 the Gilgit district, where a certain amount of forest occurs, which is intermediate in 

 coloration between the European and Tibetan varieties. The Turkestan lynx 

 resembles the one from Gilgit. 



In Europe the lynx used to be found at low elevations, in Gilgit it occurs at 

 elevations of about five thousand feet, while in Tibet it is not found below some 

 fourteen to fifteen thousand feet in summer. The food of the lynx varies according 

 to its habitat. In Europe it preys upon birds and upon mammals varying in size 

 from mice to goats and sheep, and perhaps occasionally larger species. In dis- 

 position it is extremely savage, and will often kill more animals than it can devour : 

 Dr. Scully mentioning that in Gilgit a pair of lynxes killed six sheep in a single 

 night. From two to three cubs are produced at a birth ; the lair being usually 

 formed among rocks. The young are born blind. 



When taken young, the lynx can be easily tamed. The writer saw a full- 

 grown tame Tibetan lynx in the possession of the late Mr. W. H. Johnson, then 

 governor of Ladak, in Leh, during the year 1874, and another in Calcutta in 1878, 

 belonging to Dr. J. Anderson. Both specimens were very playful, although the 

 former would occasionally be somewhat too free with its claws. It displayed 

 marvellous agility in capturing the half -wild pigeons which abound in Leh. 



In Ladak, where the lynx is a rare animal, but seldom seen by Europeans, its 

 chief food appears to consist of the blue hares which occur in swarms in many of 

 the higher valleys. General Kinloch writes that in the summer of 1866, when 

 shooting at a high elevation near Hanle, in Spiti, " I suddenly came upon a female 

 lynx with two cubs. I shot the mother, and as the cubs concealed themselves 



