CANADA LYNX. 143 



GENERAL KE MARKS. 



The question whether the Canada Lynx is, or is not, identical with 

 any species of the north of Europe, is by no means settled. Pennant, 

 considered it the same as the lynx (Felis lynx,) of the old world. Buf- 

 PON, after pointing out the distinctive marks of each, came to the conclu- 

 sion that they were mere varieties. These naturalists, however, lived at 

 a period when it was customary to consider the animals of America as 

 mere varieties of those of the Eastern continent. Geoffroy St. Hilaire 

 named our present species, considering it distinct from the LjTixes of Eu- 

 rope ; and Temminck described it under the name of F. borealis, as exist- 

 ing in the northern parts of both continents, thinking it a species distinct 

 from Felis lynx of the north of Europe. 



We spent some time with Professor Reichenbach, in comparing speci- 

 mens of European and American lynxes, which exist in the museum of 

 Dresden. From the general appearance of these specimens, a great si- 

 milarity between L. Canadensis, and the LjTix {Felis lynx,) of the north 

 of Europe, may undoubtedly be remarked, and they might be regarded as 

 mere varieties of one species. The forms of animals, however, approach 

 each other in both continents where there is a similarity of climate. Many 

 of the genera of New York and Pennsylvania plants are largely repre- 

 sented in Germany, and although nearly all the indigenous species are 

 different, they are closely allied. In South Carolina, there are several 

 birds, quadrupeds, and reptiles, which bear a striking resemblance to 

 those found in Egypt, in nearly the same parallel of latitude. The black- 

 winged hawk (F. dispar) resembles the F. melanopterus so nearly, that 

 Bonaparte published them as identical. Our alligator is a near relative 

 of the crocodile, our soft-shelled turtle (Trionyx ferox) is much like the 

 T. JEgypticus, and our fox squirrel, {Sc. capistralus,) has a pretty good re- 

 presentative in Sc. Madagascariensis. In a more northern latitude, we 

 may point to the American and European badgers, to Lepus Americanus, 

 and L. variabilis, and to Tamias striatiis of Siberia and T. Lysterii, as ex- 

 amples of the near approach of distinct species to each other ; to which 

 we may add that the wild sheep of the Rocky Mountains {Ovis montana) 

 bears so striking a resemblance to the Ovis Anunon, another species ex- 

 isting on the mountains of Asia, that the two have been confounded ; and 

 our Spermophilus Toimsendii is in size and colour so like the Souslik, (Sp. 

 guttatus,) of the mountains of Hungary, that Dr. Richardson published 

 it as a mere variety. Taking these facts into consideration, after a 

 careful examination of Lynx Canadensis, and after having compared it 

 with Felis lynx, of Europe, we pronounce them distinct species without 

 hesitation. 



