98 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—-GENERAL REPORT. 
brown, irregularly variegated with small spots of dark brown ; the tail is about two inches 
long, and nearly white, except the extremity, which is black. It terminates abruptly, as if it 
had been amputated ; the belly is white, and beautifully variegated with small black spots ; the 
legs are of the same color with the sides, and the back is marked transversely with black stripes; 
the ears are black on the outside, covered with fine short hair, except at the upper point, which 
is furnished with a pencil of hair, fine, straight, and black, three-fourths of an inch in length. 
The hair of this animal is long and fine, far exceeding that of the wild cat of the United States, 
but inferior in that quality to that of the bear of the northwest. The skin of this animal is in 
great demand amongst the natives, for of this they form their robes, and it requires four to make 
up the complement.” 
In the description of color, character of fur, &c., this account agrees very closely with speci¬ 
mens before me, except that the spots of dark brown above are but slightly conspicuous. Several 
specimens have one or both ears entirely black, as stated, and in all the usual white patch is 
quite inconspicuous. The alleged shortness of the tail is easily accounted for by its contraction 
or twisting in the skin examined by the authors. The greatest discrepancy exists in the remark 
that “ the hack is marked transversely with black stripes.” In the connexion of the paragraph 
it is very evident that the back or inner sides of the legs is understood, (which are so striped,) 
as the back or upper surface of the body had already been described as reddish brown, irregu¬ 
larly varied with small spots of dark brown, (not striped transversely with black.) 
The name of Rafinesque was given under the impression that the back was striped transversely, 
whence the name of fasciatus. As the term really applies to a part of the body, even though 
the character is shared by most species of Lynx , it is best to retain it, and thus expunge a 
synonym. Rafinesque himself never saw a specimen, but based his name on the description 
quoted above. 
The Felis rufa of Richardson applies very well to this species, and is probably identical with 
it. This author gives also Felis fasciata, from the description of Lewis & Clark, and sees a 
close resemblance between the two ; interrupted, however, by the supposed transverse dorsal 
stripes of the latter. As shown above, however, Lewis & Clark clearly referred to transverse 
stripes on the back part of the leg, and not on the dorsal surface of the body. 
Ho specimens have thus far been received, except from the western portion of Washington 
Territory. 
List of specimens. 
Catalog’e 
number. 
Correspond’g 
No. of skull. 
Sex &l 
Age. 
Locality. 
When 
collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Original 
number. 
Nature of 
specimen. 
Collected by 
2004 
1946 
1947 
1024 
660 
2385 
2386 
1166 
461 
3126 
* 
Fort Steilacoom, 
W. T. 
Dr. Geo. Suckley... 
114 
97 
87 
63 
19 
134 
Skin_ 
April, 1856 
1854 
Gov. I. I. Stevens.. 
Dr. Geo. Suckley .. 
1877 
3147 
_do__ 
Dr. Geo. Suckley. 
Port Townsend, 
W. T. 
Olympia, W. T .. 
1 Shoal water Bay, 
W. T. 
L...dO.......... 
Dr. J. S. Newberry. 
Dr. J. G. Cooper... 
Dr. J. G. Cooper. 
Sept. 26, ’54 
20 
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