196 MAMMATLIA—LYNX. 
which is long and thick, is of a pale gray color, with a reddish tinge, anu 
obscurely marked with small dusky spots on the upper parts of the body. 
The under parts are white. The skin of the male is more beautifully 
marked than that of the female. It does not walk or run like the wolf in a 
progressive motion, but leaps and bounds like the cat. It gains its sole 
subsistence by devouring other animals; and these it will follow to the 
very tops of trees. Neither can the wild cat, the marten, the ermine, nor 
the squirrel, escape its pursuit. It also seizes birds, lies in wait for the 
stag, the roebuck, and the hare, and with one bound often seizes them by 
the throat. When in possession of its prey, it first sucks the blood of the 
animal, and then lays open its head, in order to devour the brains. This 
done, it generally abandons the victim of its fury, goes in search of fresh 
prey, and is seldom known to return to the former ; a circumstance which 
has given rise to the vulgar remark, that of all animals the lynx has the 
shortest memory. ‘The skin of this animal changes its color according to 
the season and the climate. In winter it is in every respect better than it 
is in summer; and its flesh, like the flesh of all beasts of prey, is not proper 
to eat. 
CANADA LYNX. 
Ts 1s the only species of the genus which exists north of the Great 
Lakes, and eastward of the Rocky Mountains. It is rare on the sea-coast, 
and does not frequent the Barren Grounds, but it is not uncommon in the 
woody districts of the interior, since from seven to nine thousand are annu- 
ally procured by the Hudson’s Bay Company. it is found on the Mackenzie 
River, as far north as 66°. It is a timid creature, incapable of attacking 
any of the larger quadrupeds ; but well armed for the capture of the Ameri- 
can hare, on which it chiefly preys. Its large paws, slender loins, and 
Jong, but thick hind legs, with large buttocks scarcely relieved by a short 
thick tail, give it an awkward, clumsy appearance. 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 straight forward, with the back a little arched, and 
lighting on all feet at once. Itswims well, but it is not swift on land. It 
breeds once a year, and has two young atatime. The natives eat its 
flesh, which is white and tender, but rather flavorless, much resembling 
that of the American hare. 
The early French writers on Canada gave it the name of Loup Cervier. 
The French Canadians now term it indifferently La Chats, or Le Peshoo. 
geonaur vousidered it as identical with the lynx of the Old World; Geoffroy 
St Hilaire named it as a distinct species ; and Temminck has again, under the 
name of Felis Borealis, described the species as the same in both hemispheres. 
1 Frlis Canadensis, Desm. 
