PANTHERS, AND OUR OTHER CATS. 413 
as they suy, only two to North America! I am surely right 
with regard to the old world, but whether they are, upon this 
knotty point, right as to this, we will leave for future investi- 
gation to determine. Be scientific truth on which side of the 
controversy it may, the animal itself is a very interesting 
one, and intimately associated with the legend and character, 
not only of the pioneers, but of the older population of our 
wide country, for it is found every where, from the middle 
to the extreme southern and southwestern limits of settlement. 
The Canada lynx, which is so frequently identified with it, 
extends from the mountains of Pennsylvania to the northern 
districts of Canada. With regard to the habits of the Lynz 
rufus, the authors of the Quadrupeds of America say: 
. The general appearance of this species conveys the idea 
of a degree of ferocity, which cannot with propriety be con 
sidered as belonging to its character, although it will, when 
at bay, show its sharp teeth, and with outstretched claws and 
infuriated despair, repel the attacks of either man or dog, 
sputtering the while and rolling its eyes like the common cat. 
It is, however, generally cowardly when attacked, and always 
flies from its pursuers if it can; and although some anecdotes 
have been related to us of the strength, daring and fierceness 
of the animal, such as its having been known to kill, at 
different times, a sheep, a full grown doe, attack a child in 
the woods, ete., yet in all the instances that have come 
under our own notice, we have found it very timid, and 
always rather inclined to beat a retreat, than to make an 
attack on an animal larger than a hare or young pig. 
Dr. Bachman, Associate Editor of the Quadrupeds of 
America, describes with some minuteness and reality the most 
common mode of hunting the wild cat by daylight, when 
undertaken in set fashion by the southern gentry, with all the 
appliances of “hound and horn,” etc.; but his chase is wound 
up by the shooting of the exhausted animal by some one of 
the huntsmen. 
