ORDER CARNASSIER. 493 



under the name of Cat Lynx, another with pale spots under 

 the name of Wolf Lynx, and a third with bands, under that 

 uf Fox Lynx. Linnaeus at first separated, but afterwards 

 united them. Retzius considers the two first as specifically 

 different. 



The physiognomy of the Lynx is rather gentle than sa- 

 vage ; and, indeed, it is said to be less ferocious than most 

 of the species of this genus. It walks and leaps or bounds 

 like a Cat, and hunts Wild Cats, Martens, Ermines, Squir- 

 rels, fyc, pursuing them up into trees, where also it will 

 lie in wait to drop on Deer, Goats, fyc, that may pass be- 

 neath. It is sanguivorous ; and having seized on a prey, 

 is said frequently to suck the blood, and then leave it for 

 another victim ; whence it has been asserted, that the Lynx 

 has the least memory of all animals. Its skin is changed 

 by climate and season ; and in high latitudes, particularly 

 in winter, the fur is much finer and thicker, and more 

 esteemed. 



Why the treacherous Lyncus should have been trans- 

 formed into a Lynx, and this animal be in consequence held 

 up in terrorem to the world as an example of perfidy, is not 

 stated by Ovid, who, while he relates the tale, " Lynca 

 Ceres fecit," like a true chronicler, abstains from all com- 

 ment. A namesake of the Scythian king, Lynceus the Ar- 

 gonaut, who, by-the-by, was a sheep-stealer or something 

 worse, appears also to have been in some way allied to this 

 animal, in the opinion of antiquity ; as the powers of vision 

 of both were considered equally extensive and surprising, 

 and no doubt with equal truth ; but if so, the eyes of the 

 Lynx must have suffered in these degenerate days. Other 

 marvellous stories were also told by the ancient naturalists 

 of the Lynx, which have gained credit in later times with 

 the vulgar, and with those who are easily credulous, and 

 too idle to seek for truth at the, expense of trouble. 



The Lynx was formerly spread over the Old World, was 



2 L 2 



