CHAPTER XXIII. 159 



Ursus AmericanuB, and several varities, as the cinnamon, are to be met 

 by the hunter along the river bottoms, well representing the large car- 

 nivora. Unlike the bears of the extreme north and east, those of the 

 southern Reserve do not hibernate completely, roaming the forests in 

 search of food almost if not the entire year. 



In this natural park, perhaps more plentifully to the south, is found 

 the Leon del monte — the mountain lion. Fells concolor, of California 

 and the West; the largest American cat, remarkable for its wide geo- 

 graphical range. It is seen in the forests of Washington and Oregon; 

 as the puma it ranges the deserts of Patagonia. I have followed its 

 trail as the panther in the deep forests of the Adirondack mountains, 

 and have seen its footprints on the keys of Florida near the mainland 

 where it swam from key to key, the very antipodes of the ordinary 

 feline, at least in ths respect. 



The carnivora is well represented in the forests of the Reserve but 

 only those which are considered game will be mentioned. It might be 

 considered a stretch of the imagination to apply this term to the lynx, 

 two species of which are known in the mountains of California, but I 

 have witnessed their courage and ferocity on many occasions when fol- 

 lowed by hounds. The spotted lynx. Fells maculata, is a striking and 

 beautiful creature, often seen in the foothills and main ranges of South- 

 ern California, and is a southern representative of the great northern 

 lynx. It can be traced as far south as the City of Mexico. The other 

 species is the red lynx, Fells rufa, common everywhere in California; 

 both forms being known as wild cats in many sections. They usually 

 make their home in the mountains but are the familiar of almost every 

 large arroyo coming down these roadways and so reaching the foot- 

 hills of the Southern California mountains. They frequent the luxuriant 

 tangles of wild grapes and the thick brush of the orroyo bottoms, living 

 cheek by jov/1 with the raccons, skunks, wood rats, raccoon-foxes, and 

 other small carnivora which make up the interesting fauna of the re- 

 gion. 



In the upper ranges, more particularly in the Sierra Nevadas, though 

 rare even there, lurks the gray wolf, Canls lupis; as ghostly, grim and 

 gaunt as the fancy has painted it; skulking among the big trees, or 

 stealing down the canyon, perchance eying some sheep herder, far away. 

 This animal is rarely seen, especially in the southern portions of the 

 Reserves, but on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevadas it becomes 

 fairly common, and in the adjacent territories is considered a menace 

 to the best interests of the herder. In California it is found in the 



