56 
THE LYNX. 
believe, only in the rugged districts of Cum¬ 
berland and "Westmoreland; but in Scotland 
and Ireland they are still so numerous as to 
occasion considerable inconvenience to the 
farmer by destroying lambs and young pigs. 
On the continent of Europe they are often 
found, and their fur is valued for many 
uses.” 
“Is the lynx an animal of the cat-kind?” 
asked Annie. 
“Yes: it is usually placed last in the fa¬ 
mily, and seems, as it were, to connect the 
cats and dogs.” 
“I have heard people called lynx-eyed,” 
observed Sidney. “I suppose that is be¬ 
cause lynxes are so sharp-sighted.” 
“ Many wonderful stories used to be told 
about their power of vision. It does not, 
however, appear from what is at present 
known of the lynx tribe, that they are en¬ 
dued with any sharper sight than others 
of the cat family. The appearance of their 
eyes, which are very large, bright and search¬ 
ing in their expression, may have easily given 
rise to this notion. There are several 
varieties of the lynx, inhabiting different 
parts of the world, and varying somewhat 
