78 



THE LYNX. 



mal to appear very much larger and heavier than 

 is actually the case, enabling it to withstand in- 

 tense cold without inconvenience. 



Generally they are solitary in their habits ; but 

 there are certain species, such as the Caracal of 

 Asia and Africa, which, unlike most Cats, hunts 

 in troops and overcomes its prey by force of num- 

 bers. It has a strange head with long, black 

 tapering ears. Its eyes are very large and bright, 

 and seem to scowl at you with a fierce, forbid- 

 ding expression. Near each eye it has two spots 

 of- white, one on the inner, the other on the outer 

 side. The edges of the upper lip, the chin, and 

 lower lip are white. So are the insides of the 

 limbs, but the general color of the body is a pale 

 reddish-brown. 



It is long-legged and slender-bodied, and runs 

 with considerable swiftness, which is not usually 

 the case with Cats of this section of the family. 

 The Caracal, too, is fond of dwelling upon the 

 plains, while the other species affect tlie dense 

 forests, wiiere their stealtliy ways enable them to 

 surprise their prey, and where they most easily 

 find places of concealment, in which they love to 

 remain. 



It leaps upon its victim with a sudden bound, 

 and holds it so tenaciously that its struggles to 

 escape are all in vain. It is said to follow the 

 Lion and other beasts of prey, and feed upon 

 what they are too dainty to consume. 



The fur of the Ljiix is much sought after as 

 an article- of commerce, and so many thousands 

 of these animals are killed every year in the far 

 northern portion of North America by the hunters 

 attached to the great fur companies that they are 

 fast decreasing in numbers, and will probably 

 soon become rare where formerly they were most 

 abundant. 



The fur of the European Lynx is long and fine. 

 It is of a dull reddish grey above, with oblong 

 spots of reddish-grey down the sides. The spots 

 on the limbs are smaller and rounder. In winter 

 the fur is longer than in summer; in fact, the 

 colder the climate, the fuller and . more valuable 

 is the fur. 



The fur of the Canada Lynx forms a consider- 

 able article in the yearly importation of the Hud- 

 son's Bay Company. It is easily frightened. It 

 makes a poor fight when it is found by a hunter 

 up a tree, although it spits like a Cat, and sets 

 its hair up. A blow on the back with a big stick 

 kills it instantly. It is said that the Lynx drops 

 from trees on the backs of Deer, and kills them 

 by tearing their throats, just like the Chetah, and 

 ravenously drinking their blood, 



The motions of this animal are made with 

 great caution, as if it considered every step it 

 took, particularly when it has perceived any 

 game ; and if it is not able to ascertain the exact 

 position of its prey, it will jump with lightning 

 speed into some low branches, and there, crouch- 

 ing beneath the overhanging foliage, will wait 

 the favorable moment for a spring. 



Such is the attitude of the animal in the en- 

 graving, The Goats, all unmindful of the vicin- 

 ity of their fierce enemy, are browsing, in strag- 

 gling parties, nearer and nearer the fatal spot. 

 Too cunning to lean forward lest he may be seen 

 by the approaching animals, the Lynx trusts to 

 his ears to tell him of their position, while he 

 crouches closer within his ambush. The green 

 eyes, that- exhibit so little real intelligence, glare 

 with suppressed excitement, and one velvet paw, 

 hiding the sharp claws, all ready to be thrust out, 

 is pushed slightly forward upon the branch, and 



