No. V.] 



ZOOLOGY. 



659 



but on the latter, a few white hairs are intermixed ; the whole under-parts, and the 

 insides of the legs, are a dingy white ; the tail is brownish above, becoming whiter 

 at the end, and is entirely white beneath. 



Felts Canadensis. Canadian Lynx. 



A very fine specimen of this beautiful but rapacious animal, which is usually called 

 in the British settlements and amongst the hunters of America, the Wild Cat, was 

 sent from Cumberland-House, It is a timid animal, offers little resistance when 

 attacked, and is easily despatched by a blow on the back. The remarkable points 

 of its character are, its sharp ears, tipped with a tuft of black hair; long 

 bunches of hair on each side at the back of its under jaw; its thick and furry 

 legs and feet, and its short tail tipped with black. The specimen stands about 

 sixteen inches high, and measures three feet from the top of its nose to the end of 

 the tail, which latter is only four inches long ; the mass of hair on its back and 

 sides is short and thick, that on the back is dark below tipped with white, on the 

 sides reddish below and tipped also with white, the whole having a reddish grey 

 mottled appearance, but not spotted ; the hair of the belly is light and long ; that of 

 the head is grey, as on the back, but shorter; the head is thick and short, the eyes 

 placed forward, whiskers white and turned back ; nails white, short, and sharp, 

 slightly curved. M. Geoffrey St. Hilare separated this animal from the European 

 Lynx, considering it a distinct species. The skins, which are imported from America, 

 make a beautiful fur, and are in high estimation, near nine thousand being the 

 amount imported last year by the Hudson's Bay Company. The flesh is good as food, 

 it is white, and has some resemblance to a rabbit in flavour. It preys chiefly on the 

 common Hares (Lepus Americanus) of the country. 



Castor Fiber. Beaver. 

 Beavers are found to the northward as far as the wooded countries extend, but there 

 were none in the Barren Grounds to the eastward of the Copper-Mine River. The 

 import of Beaver skins last year by the Hudson's Bay Company, amounted to 

 sixty thousand. A black variety is sometimes taken, and is considered a valuable 

 rarity. Dr. Richardson also states that a white variety is of occasional occurrence. 



Fiber Zibethicus. Musk Rat. 



The Musk Rats, or Musquashes, as they were called, were abundantly found almost 

 during the whole journey, even far north. It is surprising that those industrious animals 

 (whose habits, so similar to those of the Beaver, are well known, and have often been 

 described) do not give way to the annual destruction of their race for the supply of 

 commerce ; very nearly 150,000 of the skins were imported last year by the Hudson's 



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