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THE EUROPEAN LYNX. 
portions of the Asiatic and African continents. Arabia, the Cape and its vicinity, Egypt, 
Nubia, and Barbary, are the habitations of this animal, which is also found spread over the 
greater part of India and Persia. The Arabs call this animal Anak-el-ard. 
By name, if not by sight, the common Lynx of Europe is familiar to us, and is known as 
the type of a quick-sighted animal. The eyes of the Lynx, and the ears of the “ Blind Mole,” 
are generally placed on a par with each other, as examples of especial acuteness of either 
sense. 
The European Lynx is spread over a great portion of the Continent of Europe, being 
found in a range of country which extends from the Pyrenees to Scandinavia. It is also found 
in the more northern forests of Asia. 
The color of this animal is as variable as that of the caracal, or even more so, for the same 
individual will change the hue of its fur according to the season of the year. During the 
EUROPEAN LYNX .— Lynx virgatus. 
colder months the fur becomes larger, fuller and more grizzled, the latter effect being produced 
by a change in the tips of the hairs, which assume a grayish-white. The usual color of the 
Lynx is a rather dark gray, washed with red, on which are placed sundry dark patches, large 
and few upon the body, and many and small on the limbs. On the body the spots assume an 
oblong or oval shape, but upon the limbs they are nearly circular. The tail of the Lynx is 
short, being at the most only seven or eight inches in length, and sometimes extending only 
six inches. The length of the body and head is about three feet. 
This animal resembles the caracal in its habits and mode of obtaining prey. . Sheep often 
fall victims to the Lynx, but it finds its chief nourishment among hares, rabbits, and other 
small animals. Like the caracal it is an excellent climber of trees, and chases its prey among 
the branches with ease and success. _ . 
The fur of the Lynx is valuable for the purposes to which the feline skin is usually 
destined, and commands a fair price in the market. Those who hunt the Lynx for the pur- 
pose of obtaining its fur, choose the winter months for the time of their operations, as during 
