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latest and most accurate description of this animal. "Nearly equal in size to the lynx of Europe," says he, "but shorter in its proportions and more graceful in its form, it holds, as it were, a middle station between the leopard and the domestic cat. Its body, when full grown, is nearly three feet in length, and its tail rather more than one; while its medium height may be reckoned at about eighteen inches. The ground color of its fur is gray, mingled with a slight tinge of fawn, and on this it is elegantly marked with numerous longitudinal bands, the dorsal one being continuous and entirely black, and the lateral, to the number of six or seven on each side, consisting, for the most part, of a series of elongated spots with black margins, sometimes completely distinct, and sometimes running together. The centre of each of these spots offers a deeper tinge of fawn than the ground color external to them; and this deeper tinge is also conspicuous on the upper part of the head and neck, and on the outside of the limbs, all of which parts are irregularly marked with full black lines and spots of va rious sizes. From the top of the head, between the ears, there pass backwards, towards the shoulders, two, or more frequently four, uninterrupted diverging bands, which are full black anteriorly, but generally bifurcate posteriorly, and enclose a narrow fawn colored space within a black margin; between these there is a single longitudinal, somewhat interrupted narrow black line, occupying the centre of the neck above. The ears are short and rounded, and externally margined with black, surrounding a large central whitish spot. The under parts of the body are whitish, spotted with black, and the tail, which is of the same ground color with the body, is also covered with blackish spots. The tail of the specimen in the Tower does not exceed six or seven inches, but, as it ends abruptly, it has, in all probability, been shortened by some accident."

The animal in the Tower was sent from Trinidad, under the name of the Peruvian tiger. It is extensively spread over the American continent, being found in the widely separated regions of Mexico and Paraguay, where it abides in the depths of the forests during the day, and gives chase at night to birds and small quadrupeds. As it is an active climber, it follows the birds even to their nests. "It is easily tamed," says Mr Bennett, "but seldom loses all trace of its natural ferocity. D'Azara, however, speaks of one which was so completely domiciliated, as to be left at perfect liberty; it was strongly attached to its master, and never attempted to make its escape."

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Is an animal more commonly found in cold than in temperate climates; and is, at least, very rare in hot ones. Bory St Vincent, however, assures us that he shot several in Spain. It is abundant in the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America. The lynx of the Greeks and Romans was not the animal which now bears that name, but the caracal.

The lynx, of which the ancients have said, that the sight was so sharp as to penetrate opaque bodies, and of which the urine was made to possess the marvellous property of hardening into a solid substance, a precious stone called lapis lyncurius, is an animal which never existed, any more than all the properties attributed to it, but in fable. To the present lynx, or to the caracal, this imaginary one has no affinity, but in name. We must not, therefore, as the generality of naturalists have hitherto done, attribute to the former, which is a real being, the properties of this imaginary one, the existence of which Pliny himself does not seem disposed to believe, since he speaks of it only as an extraordinary beast, and classes it with the sphinx, the pegasus, and other prodigies, or monsters, the produce of Ethiopia.

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The European lynx possesses not the wonderful quality of seeing through walls; but it has bright eyes, a mild aspect, and, upon the whole, an agreeable and lively appearance. Such, however, is its native ferocity, that it is said to be incapable of being subdued. Its urine produces not precious stones, but like the cat, an animal which it nearly resembles, and of which it retains the manners, and even the cleanliness, it covers it over with earth.

The most beautiful skins of the lynx are brought from Siberia, as belonging to the lupus-cervarius; and from Canada, as belonging to the feliscervarius; because being, like all other animals of the New Continent, smaller than those of the Old World, in Europe they are compared to a wolf in size, and in Canada to a wild cat.

The lynx has short legs, and is generally about the size of the fox. The ears are erect, and are tipped with a long pencil of black hair. The fur,

1 Felis lynx, LIN.

which is long and thick, is of a pale gray color, with a reddish tinge, and obscurely marked with small dusky spots on the upper parts of the body. The under parts are white. The skin of the male is more beautifully marked than that of the female. It does not walk or run like the wolf in a progressive motion, but leaps and bounds like the cat. It gains its sole subsistence by devouring other animals; and these it will follow to the very tops of trees. Neither can the wild cat, the marten, the ermine, nor the squirrel, escape its pursuit. It also seizes birds, lies in wait for the stag, the roebuck, and the hare, and with one bound often seizes them by the throat. When in possession of its prey, it first sucks the blood of the animal, and then lays open its head, in order to devour the brains. This done, it generally abandons the victim of its fury, goes in search of fresh prey, and is seldom known to return to the former; a circumstance which has given rise to the vulgar remark, that of all animals the lynx has the shortest memory. The skin of this animal changes its color according to the season and the climate. In winter it is in every respect better than it is in summer; and its flesh, like the flesh of all beasts of prey, is not proper

to eat.

CANADA LYNX.1

THIS is the only species of the genus which exists north of the Great Lakes, and eastward of the Rocky Mountains. It is rare on the sea-coast, and does not frequent the Barren Grounds, but it is not uncommon in the woody districts of the interior, since from seven to nine thousand are annually procured by the Hudson's Bay Company. It is found on the Mackenzie River, as far north as 66°. It is a timid creature, incapable of attacking any of the larger quadrupeds; but well armed for the capture of the American hare, on which it chiefly preys. Its large paws, slender loins, and long, but thick hind legs, with large buttocks scarcely relieved by a short thick tail, give it an awkward, clumsy appearance. It is easily destroyed by a blow on the back with a slender stick; and it never attacks a man. Its gait is by bounds straight forward, with the back a little arched, and lighting on all feet at once. It swims well, but it is not swift on land. It breeds once a year, and has two young at a time. The natives eat its flesh, which is white and tender, but rather flavorless, much resembling that of the American hare.

The early French writers on Canada gave it the name of Loup Cervier. The French Canadians now term it indifferently La Chats, or Le Peshoo. Pennant considered it as identical with the lynx of the Old World; Geoffroy St Hilaire named it as a distinct species; and Temminck has again, under the name of Felis Borealis, described the species as the same in both hemispheres.

1 Felis Canadensis, DESм.

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THE common wild cat of North America stands very high upon its legs, and has a short tail which is curved upwards at its extremity; which circumstances tend to give the animal an appearance of being somewhat disproportioned. In other respects its physiognomy reminds one strongly of the domestic cat, to which its general aspect and movements are very similar. The residence of the wild cat is usually in woody districts, where it preys upon birds, squirrels, and other small animals, which are taken by surprise, according to the manner of all the animals belonging to the genus felis. This animal is about two feet long, and twelve or thirteen inches in circumference. The tail but little exceeds three inches in length. The general color is a deep reddish, mingled with small spots of blackish brown. This animal is occasionally met with in New England, but is more common in Canada and the Western States. It must be distinguished from the wild cats, occasionally shot in our woods, which have sprung from the domestic cat.

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THOUGH the caracal resembles the lynx in size, in the formation of the body, and the aspect of the head; and though, like that animal, it seems to have the peculiar, and almost singular characteristic of a stripe of black

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hair at the extremity of the ears; we do not scruple, nevertheless, from their disagreement in other respects, to treat of them as animals of different species.

The caracal is not spotted like the lynx; it has hair rougher and shorter ; its tail is larger, and of a uniform color; its snout is more elongated; in appearance it is less mild, and in disposition it is fiercer. The lynx is an inhabitant of the cold, or at most of the temperate regions; the caracal is only found in hot countries.

The caracal, which is the lynx of the ancients, is common in Barbary, in Arabia, and in the southern half of Asia, and in all those countries which are inhabited by the lion, the panther, and the leopard: like them it depends on prey for its subsistence; but, unlike them, from its inferior size, its inferior strength, to procure that prey, it has much difficulty. Hardly, indeed, has it aught to subsist on, but what the more potent carnivorous animals are disposed to leave for it. It follows the lion, who, when the immediate cravings of his appetite are gratified, is of a disposition altogether unhostile. From the refuse of what this noble animal has devoured, the caracal frequently enjoys a comfortable meal. When, however, he is left to his own powers for support, he attacks hares, rabbits, and birds; of the latter he is exceedingly fond, and will pursue them with astonishing swiftness to the tops of the tallest trees.

The caracal is somewhat larger than a fox, and much fiercer and stronger. It has been known to attack, tear in pieces, and destroy, in a few minutes, a large dog, who, fighting for his life, defended himself with all his strength. It is very difficult to tame this animal; yet if taken when very young, and afterwards reared with care, some affirm that it may be trained to the chase, to which it is by nature inclined, and in which it is sure to succeed, provided it is let loose against such animals only as are its inferiors, and unable to resist it. Should it be a service of danger, with every expression of reluctance it declines it. It is stated that in India they make use of this animal to take hares, rabbits, and even large birds, all of which it surprises, and seizes with singular address and facility. It is, however, doubtful whether the caracal is ever thus employed. In captivity it is extremely sulky, and stares fiercely whenever it is noticed.

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