THE CANADA LYNX. 
65 
fail* crop, under the circumstances. One of our 
papers makes the following notice of it : — 
'■'■Large Corn. — We have been shown some 
specimens of corn, which, for length and weight, 
considering that the ears were raised from a 
field that fails about four, out of every five sea- 
sons, surpasses anything of the kind we have 
yet seen. The corn comes from the farm of Mr. 
Oglesby, residing two or three miles from this 
city, and the following is the measurement : — 
The first 18 ears weighed 28 lbs. A single ear 
measured 10i inches in circumference ; contain- 
ing 28 rows, and 1,512 grains of corn. Twelve 
other ears measured 12 ft. 5 in. This, taken all 
together, excels any corn we have yet heard of; 
and we invite our farming friends to bring in 
their specimens and beat it ! This is but another 
of the thousand instances of the fertility of the 
soil of this country, and its adaptation to the 
growth of all kinds of produce." 
This corn was not raised on my farm, but on 
a field which I rented, a mile and a half from 
home. It contained 20 acres of what is 
called here bottom prairie ; a low, cold, 
wet, dead, sticky soil, adhering to the feet 
when a little wet, almost like tar. I had 
my own fun, though I worked hard. It 
was confidently and exultingly predicted, 
that though I could raise corn on my 
poor hills, by putting on them the labor I 
did, yet that pond would "bog" me. 
The season was extremely wet through- 
out. Many acres, in the same bottom, 
and on higher ground, were totally lost 
— drowned. Weeds and grass sprang up, 
and grew at an unprecedented rate, put- 
ting their enemies, (plows, horses, and 
drivers,) to flight. They gave it up, and 
surrendered. Urbane B. Oglesby. 
Boonville, Mo., Dec. 11th, 1849. 
THE CANADA LYNX, OR BIG, GREY 
WILD CAT. 
The Canada lynx, (Lyncus borealis,) which has 
often been confounded with the common wild 
cat, (L. ritfus,) and the wolverene, (Gulo luscus.) 
according to Audubon and Bachman, is more 
retired in its habits than the former, keeping 
chiefly far from the habitations of even the set- 
tlers who first penetrate into the depths of the 
wilderness. Its beautiful, fine, long fur, so much 
used for collars, muffs, &c, enables it to with- 
stand the cold of our northern winters, both in 
the wooded countries north of the great lakes, 
and certainly as far south as the mountains of 
Pennsylvania, dispersed over many degrees of 
longitude, even occasionally approaching the 
sea coast. It exists in Labrador, the Canadas, 
and on the Mackenzie River as far north as 66°. 
It still occurs, although sparingly, in several of 
the New-England states. 
The Canada lynx, like all other animals of its 
general habits, breeds but once a-year, usually 
producing but two young at a birth, though 
rarely three whelps are littered at a time. The 
full-grown animal measures a little over three 
feet from the point of the nose to the root of the 
tail, and the length of the tail to the end of the 
hair, is about six inches more. The weight will 
vary from 15 to 25 lbs. Its food consists of 
several species of grouse and other birds, the 
northern hare, grey rabbit, chipping squirrel, 
and other small quadrupeds, occasionally attack- 
ing and devouring deer, sheep, lambs, poultry, 
and pigs. It is said, also, to pounce upon the 
wild goose, at its breeding places, and destroy 
the wild turkey while on her nest. 
When alarmed, or when pursued, the Canada 
lynx leaps or bounds rapidly in a straight direc- 
tion from the danger; and takes to a tree, if 
hard pressed by dogs. It is very strong, 'and 
possessing remarkably large and powerful fore 
legs and claws, is able to climb trees of any 
size, and can leap from a considerable height to 
the ground without feeling the jar, alighting on 
all four feet at the same instant, ready for bat- 
tle or flight. If dislodged from a tree by the 
hunter, it is instantly surrounded by the dogs, 
in which case it strikes with its sharp claws and 
severely bites. It has been stated " that it never 
attacks man," which remark, as a general rule, 
FlUL 
The Canada Lynx.- 
is applicable to most of our beasts of prey ; but 
this is a mistake, as an instance is fresh in our 
recollection of a young man, about seven miles 
west of Exeter, New Hampshire, who was at- 
tacked a few years ago by one of these animals, 
and had his clothes nearly torn from him, and 
probably would have been greatly injured, had 
not his brother, who was near by, seasonably 
killed the lynjfc by striking him with the pole of 
an axe. For several years preceding, a consi- 
derable havoc had been made in the neighbor- 
hood amongst the sheep, poultry, and lambs, 
which was generally attributed to foxes and 
dogs. 
It is stated that this animal is usually captured 
by the northern hunters in steel traps, such as 
are used for the beaver and otter, into which it 
very readily enters. 
The Canada lynx swims well, and it is said 
that it will cross the arm of a lake two miles 
wide— a habit which is also shared by its more 
southern and mischievous congener, the common 
wild cat, which will particularly be considered 
in our next. 
