AMERICAN LYNX. 47 



forms are extremely rare, but more or less spotted 

 animals are often met with, but in these the fur is never 

 so rich as in the paler and thicker-furred individuals. 

 In summer the Lynx loses most of its beautiful fur, and 

 is chiefly covered with brown hair. 



The whiskers are white and bristly, the claws are 

 white, sharp and retractible, and are well concealed 

 in its thick footpads ; they resemble those of a Leopard, 

 but are of course'smaller. 



The skin of the Lynx is rather thin, but at the head 

 and neck it is much thicker ; this is probably to protect 

 the males when fighting. 



The female has 6 or 8 teats. 



The skull of the Lynx is oval-shaped, about 5 inches 

 long, 2J high, and 3 broad. The canine teeth are well 

 developed. There are ten molars. 



The hind legs of the Lynx are much longer than the 

 front legs. 



The fur or skin of the Lynx forms a rather important 

 article of trade, the usual quantity of skins imported and 

 sold by the Hudson's Bay Company ranges from 8 to 

 40,000 skins ; however, in 1887 over 70,000 skins were 

 sold by the Company. These large increases usually 

 occur in two to four successive years. In 1891, 11,445 

 were sold by the same Company. 



Lynx on these occasions follow the Wood Hare or 

 American rabbits in troops, leaving their usual habitats, 

 and preying on their favourite food. When American 

 rabbits are abundant. Lynx are always plentiful. 

 Martens are also a favourite prey of this animal. 



Lynx-skins are used over a great part of the civilized 

 world, both in the natural and dyed state. 



The United States, Germany, France, Turkey, Eng- 

 land, and Canada, are the chief consumers. 



