THE LYNX : HIGHWAY ROBBER. 
166 
mentioning it to any one. Tlie chase of the lynx, or stag wolf, 
had nothing of interest which should cause us to regret it. 
We have found him again in Africa, in company with his near 
relation, the jackal. ’Tis a paltry beast, that is not hunted, but 
hides everywhere, under the rocks, in impenetrable thickets, upon 
trees. 
The species was destined to destruction by the gun like that of 
the wild cat, since it could not escape the dogs. 
If we regret the lynx but little, the stag, the buck, and the roe- 
buck regret him still less, for as his name, stag wolf, indicates, he 
was death on the fallow deer. He posted himself upon their pas- 
sage as they went to drink or to pasture, ambushed among the 
branches like the bear, the glutton, the kinkajou, and thence let 
himself fall upon his prey, which he seized by the upper part of 
the neck, and devoured alive, tearing its flesh into shreds, and 
sucking its blood. 
The European lynx has a skin reddish and slightly spotted 
with brown ; ears straight, and garnished with a characteristic brush 
of hair, which is no longer found but in the province of Algarve, 
in Portugal. A creature that lives on carnage and ambushes on 
frequented paths to stop people, may well symbolize the highway 
robber and assassin. 
THE PERFUMED BEASTS. 
The wild boar is not an inodorous animal, neither is the buck, 
nor the stag in the season of love. No one however has thought 
of classing these creatures under the name of stinking beasts. 
This characteristic has been reserved for the ignoble races living 
by rapine and assassination, without danger, usually concealing 
themselves in some hole under ground, and poisoning the atmos- 
phere with vile smells. 
The polecat, skunk, mink, marten, fox, are all of this habit, 
though belonging to different families. 
The marten, the best known type of this group of murderers 
and blood-drinkers, the marten, the polecat, and all the mustelians, 
have been endowed by the Creator with a membranous pouch sit- 
