Fes., 1912. MamMALs oF ILLINOIS AND WisconsIN— Cory. 293 
The Wild Cat or Bay Lynx was formerly numerous throughout 
Illinois and Wisconsin, but at the present time they have disappeared 
from the more settled portions of the country. They are still found 
in more or less numbers in extreme southern Illinois and are common 
in northern Wisconsin; specimens are also occasionally taken in iso- 
lated localities throughout both states. Records of its capture are too 
numerous to give in detail, as a few are killed every year in most of 
the northern counties of Wisconsin; farther south it becomes rather 
rare, although I have authentic records of its occurrence in Buffalo 
and Vernon counties and also in Fond du Lac County, Mr. C. E. Brown 
of Hamilton having killed one on June 15, 1907. Mr. W. E. Snyder 
of Beaver Dam has six specimens in his collection, killed in Ashland 
County, Wisconsin, in 1907 and 1908; and Mr. F. E. Munroe of Lady 
Smith, Rusk Co., informs me that in the fall and winter one or more 
are killed nearly every week. It is common in the Michigan peninsular. 
Mr. Edward G. Kingsford of Iron Mountain writes me that it is plenti- 
ful in that part of the country. 
In extreme northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin at the present 
time it occurs only as a rare straggler. There is a specimen in the Hoy 
collection preserved in the Carnegie Public Library at Racine, Wiscon- 
sin, which was taken in Racine County at an early date. Jackson 
states that an adult male was trapped at Hawleys Lake six miles west 
of Cable, August 23, 1908, and another was taken in the same locality, 
December 21, 1908 (J. ¢., 1910, p. 89). Snyder records one killed in 
Dodge County, near Alderly, in 1898 (J.¢., p. 123). It has been lately 
reported from Jo Daviess Co., Illinois, and Kennicott records it from 
Cook Co. (J. ¢., p. 579), although none has been observed in this vicinity 
for many years. There is a specimen in the Northwestern University 
collection at Evanston, taken near Rock Island, Illinois, some years 
ago. In extreme southern Illinois I have trustworthy information 
that it still occurs in more or less numbers in Galletin, Pope, Alexander, 
Jackson and Randolph counties. Mr. J. C. Baker of Golconda, Pope 
Co., informs me that two Wild Cats were killed in that vicinity in the 
winter of 1907. 
The habits of the Wild Cat, Bob Cat, or Bay Lynx, as it is variously 
’ called, are not very different from those of the Canada Lynx. It con- 
tents itself with smaller game, however, than its more powerful relative 
and would never think of attacking a full grown Deer, although Indians 
in Florida tell me that it does occasionally kill young fawns. It sub- 
sists largely upon Rodents of various kinds, varied with birds and eggs 
and occasionally fish when it can find them, but Rabbits furnish its 
main supply of food. Wild Cats are very fond of poultry. I have 
