416 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 
which the editors of the “‘ Quadrupeds” have had an oppor- 
tunity of witnessing. Such examples are confirmed by my 
own experience. 
When this animal discovers a flock of wild turkeys, he 
will generally follow them at a little distance for some time, 
and after having ascertained the direction in which they 
are proceeding, make a rapid detour, and concealing himself, 
behind a fallen tree, or in the lower branches of some leafy 
maple, patiently wait in ambush until the birds approach, 
when he suddenly springs on one of them, if near enough, 
and with one bound secures it. We once, while resting on a 
log in the woods, on the banks of the Wabash river, perceived 
two wild turkey-cocks at some distance below us, under 
the bank near the water, pluming and picking their feathers ; 
on a sudden one of them fled across the river, and the other 
we saw struggling in the grasp of a wild cat, which almost 
instantly dragged it up the bank into the woods and made 
off. On another occasion, we observed an individual of this 
species almost nine miles from Charleston, in pursuit of a 
covey of partridges—(Ortyx Virginiana,)—so intent was 
the cat upon its prey, that it passed within ten steps of us, 
as it was making a circle to get in advance, and in the path 
of the birds; its eyes were constantly fixed on the covey, 
and it stealthily concealed itself behind a log it expected 
the birds to pass. In a second attempt, the marauder 
succeeded in capturing one of the partridges, when the rest, 
in great affright, flew and scattered in all directions. 
The Canada lynx is something larger than the bay lynx, 
and though more formidable-looking, is not so fierce, bold, or 
restless. Indeed, it seems to be quite remarkable for a shy 
timidity, even when far removed from the neighborhood 
of man. It is not mottled as the bay lynx, but is gray 
above, a little clouded with irregular dark spots, and lighter 
beneath. It is well protected against the cold of its northern 
home by its long fur. It is very dexterous in capturing the 
