Feb., 191 2. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 293 



The Wild Cat or Bay Lynx was formerly numerous throughout 

 Illinois and Wisconsin, but at the present time they have disappeared 

 from the more settled portions of the country. They are still found 

 in more or less numbers in extreme southern Illinois and are common 

 in northern Wisconsin; specimens are also occasionally taken in iso- 

 lated localities throughout both states. Records of its capture are too 

 numerous to give in detail, as a few are killed every year in most of 

 the northern counties of Wisconsin; farther south it becomes rather 

 rare, although I have authentic records of its occurrence in Buffalo 

 and Vernon counties and also in Fond du Lac County, Mr. C. E. Brown 

 of Hamilton having killed one on June 15, 1907. Mr. W. E. Snyder 

 of Beaver Dam has six specimens in his collection, killed in Ashland 

 County, Wisconsin, in 1907 and 1908; and Mr. F. E. Munroe of Lady 

 Smith, Rusk Co., informs me that in the fall and winter one or more 

 are killed nearly every week. It is common in the Michigan peninsular. 

 Mr. Edward G. Kingsford of Iron Mountain writes me that it is plenti- 

 ful in that part of the country. 



In extreme northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin at the present 

 time it occurs only as a rare straggler. There is a specimen in the Hoy 

 collection preserved in the Carnegie Public Library at Racine, Wiscon- 

 sin, which was taken in Racine County at an early date. Jackson, 

 states that an adult male was trapped at Hawleys Lake six miles west 

 of Cable, August 23, 1908, and another was taken in the same locality, 

 December 21, 1908 (/. c, 19 10, p. 89). Snyder records one killed in 

 Dodge County, near Alderly, in 1898 (/. ^., p. 123). It has been lately 

 reported from Jo Daviess Co., Illinois, and Kennicott records it from 

 Cook Co. (/. c, p. 579), although none has been observed in this vicinity 

 for many years. There is a specimen in the Northwestern University 

 collection at Evanston, taken near Rock Island, Illinois, some years 

 ago. In extreme southern Illinois I have trustworthy information 

 that it still occurs in more or less numbers in Galletin, Pope, Alexander, 

 Jackson and Randolph counties. Mr. J. C. Baker of Golconda, Pope 

 Co., informs me that two Wild Cats were killed in that vicinity in the 

 winter of 1907. 



The habits of the Wild Cat, Bob Cat, or Bay Lynx, as it is variously 

 called, are not very different from those of the Canada Lynx. It con- 

 tents itself with smaller game, however, than its more powerful relative 

 and would never think of attacking a full grown Deer, although Indians 

 in Florida tell me that it does occasionally kill young fawns. It sub- 

 sists largely upon Rodents of various kinds, varied with birds and eggs 

 and occasionally fish when it can find them, but Rabbits furnish its 

 main supply of food. Wild Cats are very fond of poultry. I have 



