THE LYNXES. 



183 



later we heard that a wild animal, probably 

 a lynx, had destroyed some sheep in a pen 

 forty or fifty miles off. In the north the lynx 

 is generally found in the forests, where it 

 sits crouching on the branch of some tree 

 on the watch for passing game. 



In winter, when snow is on the ground, 

 it is fond of pursuing hares, making while 

 doing so a .series of a.stonishing leaps. It 

 is caught in traps, and is hunted, sometimes 

 by large parties, sometimes singly, with the 

 aid of a good greyhound, both on account 



Fig. 86. — The Polar Lynx (Lytix vulgaris). 



of the damage it does and also for the 

 sake of its fur. The hunting parties usually 

 endeavour to surround the object of pursuit 

 so that it cannot escape. The colour of 

 its coat varies very much, passing from red 

 or yellowish-brown with irregular spots in 

 summer to silver-gray for the ground-colour 

 in winter. But one may say with truth that 

 there is no lynx which exactly resembles 

 another. The Canadian lynx is only a 

 variety of the European, but is distinguished 

 by its longer and thicker fur, which is very 

 valuable. 



Some examples are known of tamed lynxes 

 which become just as gentle and obedient 

 as the best trained cats. But these cases 

 are rare, and the lynxes kept in cages are 

 in general very uninteresting. They remain 



motionless for hours, show a little animation 

 only when something is given them to eat, 

 and pay very little attention to what goes 

 on round about them. 



The Spanish Lynx (Z. {Fclis) pardinns), 

 fig. 87, is unmistakably a distinct species. 

 It is found throughout the Iberian Peninsula 

 and nowhere else. Weaker and longer in 

 the legs than the other European species, 

 the Spanish lynx has a coat of a yellowish- 

 red colour, with small irregularly scattered 

 spots on it, and faint longitudinal stripes on 

 the head; its whiskers are very insignificant, 

 and its tail very short. It lives in the same 

 manner as the northern lynx, and even 

 ventures near towns. Its flesh is highly 

 esteemed as a dainty by the Spaniards; and 

 in the middle ages that of the northern 



