PLATEAU WILDCAT. 



ALLAN BROOKS. 



This handsome lynx, named in honor of 

 the energetic assistant chief of the Biolog- 

 ical Survey, is found from Arizona North 

 to Southern British Columbia, but is con- 

 fined to the semi-arid portions of the 

 Rocky mountain region and West to the 

 Eastern slopes of the Cascades. I have 

 not heard of it farther North than Shus- 

 wap lake. It certainly does not occur in 

 the Cariboo district to the Northward. 



pencils of hair on the ears are fairly well 

 developed, reaching a length of Y\ inch. 

 In haDits. the plateau wildcat species re- 

 sembles other species, being rarely seen 

 even in districts where it is common, doing 

 nearly all its hunting at night, though I 

 once observed one hunting SpermopJiilcs at 

 noon of a summer's day. This wildcat 

 seems much easier to trap than its Pacific 

 coast relative, fasciatus, and, like that ani- 



PLATEAU WILDCAT. LYNX BAILEYI. 



Throughout the Northern portion of its 

 range it frequents the brush and heavily 

 timbered bottoms, rarely ascending into 

 the mountains, though occasionally it can 

 be trapped in the same localities as its 

 larger relative, the Canada lynx. In col- 

 oration it is not unlike that animal, but 

 always possesses the black barring of the 

 legs and spotting of the lower parts, 

 though in a much less degree than the 

 other wildcats of North America. The 



mal, and all others of the same family, it 

 will not fight when trapped. Only occa- 

 sionally will one be found with enough 

 pluck to defend itself when being dis- 

 patched. 



Unlike most of the cat tribe, this soe- 

 cies is generally excessively fat. The 

 weight of an ordinary adult will range 

 from 15 to 20 pounds, a large old male 

 weighing 25 pounds. The iris is light red- 

 dish hazel, with a roun.dis.li pupiL 



Mr. D. Speptic — My dear, I wish you'd 

 prepare something occasionally to tempt 

 my appetite. 



His Wife — The idea ! Why. you haven't 

 any appetite to tempt. — Catholic Standard. 



174 



