742 A Monograph of the Species of Lynx. [No. 128. 



after disabling their victim by a single blow of the tremendous paw, 

 with the talons not exserted.* 



As many as four species occur in Europe. 



The Great Lynx (F. cervaria, Lin. ; F. borealis, Thunberg, but not 

 of Temminck). This is by much the largest and most powerful of the 

 group, with teeth — the canines at least — fully equal to those of a 

 Leopard, and a comparatively robust frame, appearing more so from 

 the length and fulness of its beautiful fur, which is highly valued by 

 the dealers in peltry. Its length approaches to three feet and a half, 

 and height of the back upwards of two feet : the ears are rather small, 

 only one inch and three-quarters long, and but slightly tufted; and 

 the facial ruff is very conspicuous, the mouchetures hardly appearing 

 below it, though nearly three inches in length. The upper canines are 

 exserted an inch and a half from the gums, and are very stout in pro- 

 portion. Fur excessively soft and dense, most delicately fine in texture, 

 and two inches long, in winter, upon the back ; of a lively rufo-fulvous, or 

 bright rust-colour, underneath (or in summer), and tipped with glisten- 

 ing ashy- white in winter, imparting a fine lustre, besides which is a 

 slight tinge of carneous more or less perceptible : it is marked with 

 distantly placed irregular black spots, sometimes rather large, and more 

 or less lengthened obliquely on the sides ; three rows of these appear 

 conspicuously along the croup ; and the limbs have smaller spots, and are 

 but little marked on their inner surface. The most esteemed skins have 

 the spots small, and a lustrous greyish-white surface, with a distinct 

 blush. The young, according to M. Temminck, are covered with brown 

 spots in addition to the black ones. 



This species is the Siberian Lynx of the furriers, and would appear to 

 be principally found in Northern Asia, from whence the skins are mostly 



* So far as I have observed, a Lynx's claw is always keenly pointed, whereas in 

 wild-shot specimens of the other great Feles alluded to, the talons are often very much 

 split and broken away at the extremity, evidencing the roughest usage, but may be 

 peeled away underneath with facility till they become sharp enough for any purpose. 

 The fact is, they continue growing, but, like a rodent's tusk, are of much softer sub- 

 stance behind or underneath than in front ; and as soon as the point is broken away, a 

 horizontal split commences, and the under lamina soon shreds off: the point, being 

 harder, is apt to grow inconveniently long ; and hence a common practice of all the 

 genus, which the house Cat is too fond of performing upon the legs of chairs and other 

 furniture, the Jaguar always resorting to a particular individual tree of the forest for 

 the same purpose, and the Puma (as noticed by Mr. Darwin) making deep scores in 

 the bare hard soil of Patagonia. 



