CLASS mammals: order caenivoea. 



35 



Domestic Cat— No wild animal is known that can be the 

 original of the do- 

 mestic cat, though Mg.s7. 

 there are several 

 which bear some 

 resemblance to it. 

 There is a marked 

 difference in the tail 

 of the wild and the 

 domestic species. 

 Still greater varia- 

 tions, however, are 

 found in dogs of the 

 same race.* 



The Lt/nx is anatomically distinguished by having two less 

 molars in the upper jaw. Only two species are found in 

 North America— the Canada Lynx and the Wild Cat. The 

 former has its ears tipped with pencil-like tufts of black hair, 

 while its prevailing color is gray with a wash of black. It 



Fig. 38. 



a. Tail of Wild Cat. 



b. I'ail of Domestic Ca(. 



I/ifrux canadmsis. Lynx. 



* Probably, animals designed by the Creator for domestication, have inherent 

 tendencies to variation in form and color, according to climatic and alimentary 

 infinencee, so that individuals may be more readily recognized. See note p. 39, 



