REVISION OF THE GENUS LYNX 

 IN CALIFORNIA 



BY 

 JOSEPH GEINNELL and JOSEPH DIXON 



(Contribution from the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology of the University of Californiai 



Our work upon the natural history of the fur-bearing mammals 

 of California has necessitated an inquir^^ into the systematic status 

 of the various groups included, and we have now come to the bob- 

 tailed cats (genus Lynx Kerr). Two very distinct types within this 

 genus exist in North America clear across the continent from the 

 Atlantic seaboard to the shores of the North Pacific : the Canada lynx, 

 Lynx canadensis Kerr, with subspecies and closely related species, 

 and the wildcat. Lynx ruffus (Giildenstsedt), with subspecies and, 

 possibly, closely related species. The Canada lynx is of more northern 

 distribution, occupying the main mass of the Boreal life-zones, Avliile 

 the wildcat is of southern distribution, occupying in general the 

 Austral life-zones, but invading all the higher zones where these are 

 of detached position and of small extent relatively to the adjacent or 

 surrounding Austral areas. 



On the Pacific side of North America, the Canada lynx apparently 

 does not exist so far south as the northern boundary of California. 

 Despite the frequently recurring reports of ' ' Canada lynx ' ' from this 

 state, we have yet to record a bona fide case of the occurrence of true 

 Lynx canadensis south of the Oregon line. Indeed, we are of the 

 opinion that the species has not, within historical times, ever existed 

 within our borders. Where specimens of "Canada Ijmx" have been 

 forthcoming, they have invariably proved to be large individuals of 

 the wildcat, more especiaUy of the large race of wildcat, Lynx ruffus 

 pallescens, of the northeastern portion of the state. 



Of all the carnivores inhabiting California the wildcat has the most 

 continuous and widespread distribution. The bears, the coyotes, the 

 foxes, the mountain lions, are all more or less limited to restricted life- 

 zones, or f aunal areas, or associational belts ; their distribution is more 

 or less interrupted by barriers which they do not commonly cross. 

 But the wildcat seems less dependent upon those features of the 



