HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 213 



pound flerling. — The colour of its hair changes with the 

 climate and the feafon, The winter furs are richer and 

 more beautiful than thofe taken in fummer. 



The Lynx is faid to be very long-lived, is a very de- 

 ftructive animal, lives by hunting, and purfues its prey 

 to the tops of the higheft trees. It feeds on Weafels, 

 Ermines, Squirrels, &c. which are unable to efcape it. 

 It watches the approach of the Fallow-deer, Hare, and 

 other animals; and darts upon them from the branches 

 of trees, where it lies concealed ; feizes them by the 

 throat, and drinks their blood ; after which, it abandons 

 them, and goes in queft of frefti game. — Its fight is re- 

 markably quick ; and it fees its prey at a great diftance. 

 — It often eats no more of a Sheep or a Goat than the 

 brain, the liver, and the inteftines. It will fometimes 

 dig under the doors to gain admiffion into the fheepfold. 



When attacked by a Dog, it lies down on its back, 



flrikes defperately with its claws, and frequently obliges 

 its affailant to retreat. 



Although the Lynx has nothing in common with the 

 "Wolf, it has been diftinguifhed by the name of Lupus- 

 CervariuSf or the Stag- Wolf. Its manner of howling is 

 fimilar to that of the Wolf ; and when heard at a dif- 

 tance, is not eafily diftinguifhed from the cry of that ani- 

 mal. The epithet cervarius has been added, becaufe its 

 Ikin is variegated with fpots like that of a young Stag. 



A variety is found in the inner parts of the province 

 of New- York, which is called the Bay Lynx, and is a-i- 

 bout twice the fize of a large Cat. Its hair is fhort and 

 fmooth; its general colour is a bright-bay, obfcurely 

 marked with dufky fpots ; on its face there are black 



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