2 COMMON AMERICAN WILD CAT, 



from the old genus Feus, are the tufted ears and shorter bodies and tails of 

 the Ljiixes, as well as the slight difference above mentioned in the dental 

 arrangement of the two genera. In a note in the American Monthly Maga- 

 zine, vol. i., p. 4.37, R AFiKEsauE, in a few lines, proposed the genus Lynx, but 

 gave no detailed characters, although he states that he had increased the 

 species of this genus from fom- to fifteen 1 in which supposition, alas, he 

 was sadly mistaken. 



Dr. Dekay, in the " Natural History of New- York," a work published 

 " By Authority" of the State, has adopted the genus Lyncus, as established 

 by Gray. 



We have not seen the work in which Mr. Gray proposed this generic 

 name, and are consequently unable to ascertain on what characters it was 

 founded, and we prefer the more classical name of Lynx. The name 

 Lynx was formerly applied to one of the species of this genus. It is de- 

 rived from the Greek word ^oy^ (Jugx,) a Lynx. Eight species of Lynx 

 have been described ; one being found in Africa, two in Persia, one in 

 Arabia, two in Europe, and two in North America. 



LYNX RUFUS. — Guldekstaed. 



Common American Wild Cat. — Bat Lynx. 



PLATE I.— Male. ~^ Natural Size. 



L. Cauda capite paullo breviore, ad extremum supra nigra, apice sub- 

 albida ; auribus pagina posteriore maculo sub albido nigro marginato dis- 

 tinctis ; hyeme et auctumno rufo-fuscus ; vere et sestate cinereo-fuscus. 



CHARACTERS. 



Tail nearly as long as the head, extremity on the ujyper surface Hack, 

 tipped uith more or less white ; a whitish spot on the hinder part of the ear 

 bordered ivith black ; general colour reddish-brown in autumn and ivinter, 

 ashy-brown in spring and stimmer ; soles naked. 



synonymes. 



Bay Lynx, Pennant, Hist. Quadr., No. 171. Arctic Zool., vol. i., p. 51. 



Felis Rufa, Guld. in Nov. Comm. Petross. xx., p. 499. 



Felis Rofa, Temm., Monog., &c., vol. i., page 141. 



Lynx Fasciatus, Rafin. in Amer. Month. Mag., 1817, p. 46. 



Lynx Montancs, Idem, Ibid. pp. 46, 2. 



