Felid^.- 



-MAMMALU.- 



-FlSLID-E. 



113 



length. The Chaus is not very easily tamed. The 

 Booted lynx — Fdis caligata of Olivier — appears to be 

 identical witli it. In the catalogue of specimens i)re- 

 served in the British Museum it is designated Chaus 

 Lijblciis. 



THE EUKOPEAN LYNX [Fells £!/n.r).— There are 

 several furuis of Lynx, regarded by some as so many 

 distinct species, which are only varieties of this type. 

 Among these may be mentioned the Fdis virgata of 

 Nilsson; the F. cervaria of Temminck, being an Asiatic 

 form ; and perhaps also the F. pardina of Oken, found 

 in Spain and southern Europe. The European lynx 

 is about three feet long, not including the short tail, 

 which measures six inches. The fur is long, rough, 

 and of a rufous-gre}' colour above, the under parts of 

 llie throat and belly being more or less white. The 

 sides are indistinctly marked with oblong spots, and the 

 tree end of the tail is tipped with black. The ears are 

 hairy, and pencilled at the upper part ; the limbs stout, 

 and comparatively short. During the winter season 

 the general colour of the fur is much lighter than in 

 summer, while it is also considerably longer. The 

 liuropean lynx is a good climber, feeding principally 

 on small mammalia and birds. 



THE CANADA LYNX {Ftlis Canadetisis) was formerly 

 supposed to be only a variety of the above, but it ia 

 iiuw generally believed to be distinct. In respect of size, 

 colouring, and other characters of the fur, it very closely 

 resembles the European species. The body is rather 

 more than three feet in length, exclusive of the tail, which 

 measures only four and a half inches. For an accurate 

 account of this animal's habits we are indebted to Sir 

 John Richardson, who remarks that " it is a timid 

 creature, incapable of attacking any of the larger qua- 

 drupeds; but well armed for the capture of the American 

 hare, on which it chietiy prey's. Its large paws, slender 

 loins, and long but thick hind legs, with large buttocks, 

 scarcely relieved by a short thick tail, give it an 

 awkward, clumsy appearance. It makes a poor fight 

 when it is surprised by a hunter in a tree; for though 

 it spits like a cat, and sets its hair up, it is easily 

 destroyed by a blow on the back with a slender stick, 

 and it never attacks a man. Its gait is by bounds, 

 straightforward, with the back a little arched, and 

 lighting on all the feet at once. It swims well, and 

 will cross the arm of a lake two miles wide ; but it is 

 not swift on land. It breeds once a year, and has two 

 young at a time." We are further informed that the 

 natives eat its flesh, and that from seven to nine thou- 

 sand skins are annually exported by the Hudson's Bay 

 Company. In Dr. Gray's catalogue this species is 

 designated Lyncus Canadensis. 



THE CARACAL [Felis Caracal) is also a kind of 

 lynx, having a wide geographical range, and extending 

 not only over Africa, but, according to Mr. Bennett and 

 others, over southern Asia, as far eastward as the 

 Ganges. The body is about thirty-four inches in 

 length, excluding the tail, which measures other nine 

 inches. The fur exhibits a uniform rufous-brown colour 

 generally, growing paler from above downwards, and 

 becoming white immediately underneath the throat, 

 neck, and belly. On each half of the face are placed 

 two pure white spots, one being situated above and to 

 Vol. L 



the inside of the eye, the other occurring beneath the 

 outer angle of this organ. The ears are comparatively 

 long, " tapering gradually to a fine tip, surmounted by 

 a pencil of long black hairs," which are dark externally, 

 and whitish within. Like other species of lynx, the 

 Caracal is a good climber, and feeds chiefly on small 

 mammalia and birds. It is said also to feed on the 

 carcasses of larger quadrupeds, which have been for- 

 saken by lions. The Caracal is proportionably strong, 

 savage, and only tamed with diihculty. According to 

 Mr. Andersson, the fur is much esteemed by the natives 

 of southern Africa for making caresses, &c., wdiile the 

 Dutch settlors employ it as a local application in rheu- 

 matism. In Dr. Gray's list this species is termed 

 Caracal melanotis, 



THE OUNCE {Fdis U'licia). — Since the naturalist 

 Button gave an accurate description of this animal, 

 some authorities have disputed its claims to be regarded 

 as a separate species. It is, however, quite distinct, 

 and in the language of Dr. Gray, " easily known by 

 the thickness of its fur, the paleness of its colour, the 

 irregular form of the spots, and especially by the great 

 length and thickness of the tail." In the fonn of tliis 

 last-named organ, we observe a wide departure from 

 tlie peculiarly short stumpy condition of the tail in the 

 lynxes ; justifying perhaps, when taken into considera- 

 tion witli other minor characters, their generic separa- 

 tion — a view which several naturalists have practically 

 adopted. The Ounce is about the size of the common 

 leopard, and has similar habits. It is a native of the 

 mountainous districts of central Asia. In the list of 

 feline mammals presented in our national collection, it 

 is denominated Leopardxis Uncia. 



THE LEOFABD {Felis Leopardus). — Most naturalists 

 have arrived at the conclusion, that the Leopard and 

 Panther are one and the same animal ; we say arrived, 

 but it woidd be more just to state, that they have finally 

 acknowledged the opinion of Linnoeus on this point to 

 be coiTect, after having over and over again disputed 

 his authority. The Leopard is truly a beautiful species 

 (fig. 34). The ground colour of the fur has a pale 

 yellow tint, the surface being marked at tolerably regular 

 intervals by dark patches made up of numerous small 

 round spots, blended together m the form of annulations 

 surrounding a central clear space, the general tint within 

 being deeper than the ground colour without. The 

 Leopard is widely distributed in Africa, Asia, and the 

 Indian Archipelago. Its habits are essentially cat-like, 

 and, being an expert climber, the Indian natives call 

 it the Tree-tiger or Laclree bang. Unlike the tiger, it 

 is said that nothing will ijiduce it to take to the water. 

 Leopards are remarkably deceitful, shy, and ravenous, 

 the utmost caution bemg necessary in any attempt to 

 domesticate them. Their treacherous disposition has 

 been illustrated in various ways, especially by Captain 

 Williamson, who, amongst other things, relates the 

 following incident: — "The adjutant of our regiment, 

 wishing to send a leopard as a present to a friend in 

 England, procured a very fine cub, which had scarcely 

 opened its eyes, and took every pains to rear it in such 

 a manner as might obviate all apprehension. For 

 some months the animal appeared as innocent as a 

 kitten, was playful, and seemed to be peculiarly tract- 



