THE PRIMATES. 301 



■uncommon/' and it lias been known to leap forty and even 

 sixty feet from a rock twenty feet higher than the ground. 

 Tlie panther generally takes refuge in trees when pursued by 

 dogs, " but under no other circumstances do any but the 

 young sporting kittens ever climb trees." A very large 

 panther may weigh about 200 pounds, and stand about 3|- 

 feet high at the shoulders. It is very gaunt, but not so 

 thin as it looks. It is not so fierce as supjDosed, not attack- 

 ing man unless wounded and cornered. The domestic cat, 

 Felis domestica, was first domesticated in Egyj^t, the Greeks 

 and Romans not possessing it; the cat and common marten 

 were in use as domesticated animals side by side; and at 

 the same time in Italy, nine hundred years before the cru- 

 sades. It appears that the domestic cat of the ancients 

 was Mustela foina. 



Of the lynxes there are two species in North America, 

 Lynx rufiis, the American wildcat, and the Canada lynx. 

 Lynx CaniidensiH or loup cervier, the latter being much the 

 larger species. The Canada lynx preys upon the northern 

 hare and other small mammals, as well as the ruffed grouse 

 and spruce partridge, and has been known to devour pigs, 

 lambs, and young fawns, but does not attack, says Merriam,* 

 full-gi'own deer. The female commonly has two young at 

 a birth, her lair being usually situated in a cavern or hol- 

 low tree. 



The wild cat " frequents rocky hills and ledges, and does 

 not show that antipathy to civilization so marked in its 

 congener, the lynx." It carries off lambs, little pigs, and 

 poultry. Away from the farm-yard it feeds upon rabbits, 

 squirrels, mice, grouse, and smaller birds. " It generally 

 makes its nest in a hollow tree or log, and lines it well with 

 moss. From two to four young constitute a litter, the most 

 frequent number being three." (Merriam.) 



Order 1%. Primates. — The last and highest order of 

 mammals contains a series beginning with creatures resem- 



* The Vertebrates of Ibe Adirondack Region. 1883. 



