! 



1842.] A Monograph of the Species of Lynx . 745 



" The Lynx is a most destructive beast. He kills the young of Elk, 

 Deer, Roe-buck, Hares, &c, and also the Capercaili, Black-cock, and 

 other birds common to the northern forests. He likewise destroys the 

 smaller domestic animals, such as Sheep, Goats, Calves, &c. When he 

 gets among a flock of Sheep or Goats, it is said that, if he be un- 

 molested, he slaughters the whole of them. He has been known to 

 attack and kill even a Horse.* The Lynx, it is asserted, never touches 

 carrion or putrid flesh," nor, indeed, do any of the genus, unless very 

 severely pressed by hunger, when even a Tiger has been seen to make 

 a meal off a putrid carcass. 



" The Lynx is little dangerous to the human race. I never heard of 

 his attacking a person, unless molested in the first instance. If he be 

 wounded, he will sometimes turn upon his antagonist [much smaller 

 species, as the British Wild Cat, will do the same] ; indeed, more 

 than one instance has come to my knowledge, when, thus circum- 

 stanced, he has severely lacerated his assailant. It is not difficult to 

 kill him with a good Dog, for, if closely pursued, the animal usually 

 takes refuge in a tree, which he ascends with the agility of a Cat. In 

 that situation, it is, of course, easy for the sportsman to destroy him. 

 If the Dogs take the Lynx by surprise, and he is unable to shelter 

 himself either in a tree, or in the cleft of a rock, it is said that he 

 throws himself on his back, and defends himself desperately with his 

 claws. He is, however, as much afraid of a bite in the foot as a Lion." 



It must be to this species, also, that Pontoppidan's notice mainly 

 refers, when speaking of the Scandinavian Lynxes, he writes — " These 

 animals go out like the Wolf, except that they do not appear so publicly 

 in the open flat country, but keep more to the woods, and lurk in holes 

 of the earth, which they dig for themselves deep and winding ; but they 

 are driven out with fire and smoke. In the day-time they lie hid, and 

 steal upon their prey, which they watch for, crouched up like Cats, at 

 the entrance of their holes. They are very nice in their food, and of a 

 Sheep or Goat do not eat more than the head or udder; by which 

 circumstance one knows what animal has been there. Though they 

 always kill, they eat little in the increasing moon [?], but in the 

 decrease are more ravenous, and will hide or bury the carcasses like a 



* This was probably F. cervaria; but it will be remembered that the Norwegian 

 Horses are remarkably diminutive.— E. B. 



