ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 
51 
year. Its fur is in great demand for muffs, and winter 
decorations of ladies’ garments ; it is long and beautifully 
lustrous, but is commonly colored of a dark brown or nearly 
black, before it is exposed for sale by the retail dealers. The 
long sharp tufted ears, and short tail of the lynx give it a 
peculiar appearance, and distinguish it at once from the rest 
of the cat tribe. 
Its piercing sight has long been proverbial, though its 
powers in that respect have doubtless been exaggerated; 
hunters confirm this idea, however, of its discovering objects 
not visible to other animals. In captivity it is the most vicious 
of its race, returning the most spiteful menaces in exchange 
for the kindest treatment. 
The Wild Cat, or Bay Lynx QFelis rufa ), is peculiar 
to this Continent. 
Description . — Legs disproportionately long to the body, 
which is slender ; ears large, with moderate black tufts ; tail 
slender ; color, rufous. 
Many species of this Animal have been described under 
the names fasciata, aurea , montana , but no satisfactory 
evidence has been given to prove them distinct. The natu- 
ralists attached to different expeditions have never been able, 
either personally or from the Indians, to obtain any other than 
the one species. It is found, though comparatively rare, in 
all wild paths of the Northern and the Western States, and 
Canada. 
The origin of the house cat, like that of many other of our 
domestic animals, has always puzzled those who have under- 
