MAMMALS—FELIDAE-LYNX. 
89 
LYNX, Raf. 
Lynx, Rafinesque, Amer. Month. Mag. I, Oct. 1817, 437 .—Ib. II, 1817, 46k 
Aud. & Bach. N. A. Quad. I, 1849, 1. 
Lyncus, “ Gray.” Dekay, New York Zool. I, 1842, 50. 
Gen. Ch. — Molars the small anterior premolar of Felis wanting. Tail considerably less than half the body, exclusive of 
head and neck, generally not much longer than the head, and abruptly truncate at tip. 
In addition to the above characters Keyserling and Blasius distinguish the Lynxes from the 
cats by the fact that the anterior process of the frontal extends beyond the middle of the nasal, 
and coming in contact with the intermaxillary excludes the maxillary almost entirely from con¬ 
tact with the nasal. The last lower molar has a small posterior accessory cusp, the section 
between the two principal points lying anterior to the middle of the tooth. 
There are four Lynxes found within the limits of the United States : one, L. canadensis, of 
large size, and the pads of the feet overgrown with hair, so as to be completely concealed in 
winter ; the other three of smaller size, more naked soles, and more southern in locality, namely, 
L. fasciatus, L. rufus, and L. maculatus. 
Skull. —It is unnecessary to describe in very minute detail the skull and teeth of the genus 
Lynx , as they agree in the main with Felis. The most appreciable difference is found in the 
constant deficiency, even at a very early age, of the first upper premolar, giving rise to the 
dental formula of incisors canines premolars §f|, molars = 28. 
As already stated, the differences in the skull of Felis and Lynx can best be expressed by a 
comparison of the two. In Lynx the skull is broader ; the cranium more capacious ; the fore¬ 
head higher and more arched ; the muzzle broader; the zygoma longer, much higher, and 
extending farther backwards ; the point of the orbital process of the frontal bone is rather 
behind the middle of the longitudinal axis of the skull, instead of being considerably anterior 
to it. The elevated and compressed median crest of the parietal bone, extending on the frontal, 
as seen in the adult Felis, is never found in Lynx, where the temporal ridges of opposite sides 
are always separated by a smooth plane surface as far back as the middle of the parietal bone. 
The under surface of the skull likewise exhibits constant differences. Thus the incisive fora¬ 
mina are much smaller, although a groove is continued to the base of the inner incisor. The 
posterior margin of the bony palate, instead of being acutely emarginate in its central portion, 
is more or less transverse, (with one or two exceptions,) and even extending farther back in the 
middle than laterally. The whole palate is broader. The emargination of the palate, just 
within the molars, is also more transverse, less deep, and shallower. The suture of the palatine 
bones with the palatine plate of the maxillary, instead of projecting far forward, as an angle 
on either side of the centre of the palate, has the anterior line nearly transverse. 
The lower jaw is generally thicker and more massive ; the ramus anteriorly bent more 
inwards ; the end broader. 
There is no appreciable difference in the teeth, of generic value, with the exception of the 
constant absence, at all ages, of the first upper premolar. The resemblance in the temporary 
dentition of the two genera is equally close ; the first premolar being likewise wanting. 
