THE LYNXES. ,o, 



later we heard that a wild animal, probably ; In winter, when snow is on the o-round 



a lynx, had destroyed some sheep in a pen j it is fond of pursuing hares, makin* while 



forty or fltty miles oft. In the north the lynx ; doing so a series of astonishing ] Jps h 



IS generally found in the forests, where it I is caught in traps, and is hunted sometimes 



sits crouching on the branch of some tree i by large parties, sometimes singK, with the 



on the watch for passing game. ' aid of a good greyhound, both on account 



■-.^ 



80. — Ihe Polar Lynx [Lynx 'iiigans). 



of the damage it does and also for the 

 sake of its fur. The hunting parties usually 

 endeavour to surround the object of pursuit 

 so that it cannot escape. The colour of 

 its coat varies very much, passing from red 

 or yellowish-brown with irregular spots in 

 summer to silver-gray for the ground-colour 

 in winter. But one may say with truth that 

 there is no lynx which exactly resembles 

 another. The Canadian lynx is only a 

 variety of the European, but is distinguished 

 by its longer and thicker fur, which is very 

 valuable. 



Some examples are known of tamed lynxes 

 which become just as gentle and obedient 

 as the best trained cats. But these cases 

 are rare, and the lynxes kept in cages are 

 in general very uninteresting. They remain 



motionless for hours, show a little animation 

 onl)- when something is gi\-en them to eat, 

 and pay \-ery little attention to what goes 

 on round about them. 



The Spanish Lynx (Z. (Fclis) pa rd hi as), 

 fig. '&~, is unmistakably a distinct species. 

 It is found throughout the Iberian Peninsula 

 and nowhere else. Weaker and longer in 

 the legs than the other European species, 

 the Spanish lynx has a coat of a yellowish- 

 red colour, with small irreo;ularlv scattered 

 spots on it, and faint longitudinal stripes on 

 the head ; its whiskers are verv insiomificant, 

 and its tail very short. It lives in the same 

 manner as the northern Ivnx, and even 

 ventures near towns. Its flesh is highlv 

 esteemed as a dainty by the Spaniards; and 

 in the middle ages that of the northern 



