68 CARNIVOEA. 



9 lines ; tail, 13 inches 6 lines. In the female, the head 

 and body are 21 inches 3 lines ; tail, 12 inches 4 lines. 



It preys on birds, rabbits, &c. 



In the British Islands, is confined to the wilder parts of 

 Scotland, and, possibly, of Ireland ; the last habitat, how- 

 ever, is very doubtful. It is found in all the great forests 

 of Europe, but nowhere in numbers, according to Desma- 

 rest. Pallas says that it is not met with in Russia Proper, 

 though common in the Caucasus. Crespon gives it as not 

 uncommon in the Department du Gard ; and it inhabits the 

 forests of France generally. 



LYNXES. 



Pelis cervaria. 



Felis cervaria, Temm. Monog. vol. i. p. 106 ; De Selys, Index des 

 Himm. d'Europe. 



Description. — Tail shorter than the head ; smaller at the 

 tip than at the base ; black for a large portion of its length 

 towards the top ; whiskers on the lips pure white ; ear- 

 tufts very short, or wanting. Fur very long and tufted, 

 particularly on the legs and soles of the feet, very fine and 

 silky, covered, in the young, with brown and black spots, 

 in the adult with large and smaller spots of true black ; 

 hairs on the back about 2 inches long, clear grey at base, 

 bright reddish in the middle, and silver-grey at the points ; 

 hairs which form the spots reddish at base, the rest of 

 their length black ; whiskers of the cheeks dull white, 

 with a tuft of black hairs in the middle ; a black semi- 

 circular stripe runs from the posterior angle of the eye to 

 the cheek, a black circle round the eye, and a black spot 

 on the lachrymal region ; the spots on the sides closer to 

 each other than those on the back, those on the outside of 

 the legs still closer and round ; no spots on the inner sur- 



