’ MAN Hanhapl im;
F E L I S CE HVIÄRIA
THE S IB E R IA N L T N I.
FELIS LYNX, Linn. Syst. Nat. (17 6 6 ) vol. i. p. 62 (partim).
FELIS CERVARIA, Temm. Mon. Mamm. (18 2 7 ) vol. i. p. 106.—Fisch. Syn. Mamm. (18 2 9 ) p. 211. sp. 30.—Less. Compl. Buff. (1839)
vol. i. p. 411.—Keys. & Blas. Wirbelth. Eur. (1840) p. 62.—Less. Nouv. Tab. Regn. Anim. (18 4 2 ) p. 66. sp. 547.—Blyth, Joum.
Asiat. Soc. Beng. (1 8 4 2 ) p. 743, voL xi. pt. 2.—Nils. Skand. Faun. (1846) p. 1 2 4—Gerv. Hist. Nat. Mamm. (1865) p. 93.—Lillej.
Sverig. Norg- Ryggrad. (1874) p. 479.
FELIS LYNX, var., Erxl. Syst. Reg. Anim. (1777) p. 628.
SIBERIAN LYNX, Griff. Anim. King. (18 2 7 ) vol. ii. p. 494, pl.
H a b . East of the Ural Mountains ; rare in the Caucasus (B l y t h ). Persia (M en e ' t r i e s ). Rare in Skandinavia.
T h i s is the largest species of Lynx known, and is apparently rather rare in collections. It has been confounded with
the other northern species, the F. canadensis of this Monograph, but differs from it in many respects. According to
Blyth, it is the Siberian Lynx of the furriers, and is chiefly brought to Moscow from Northern Asia. It is apparently
rare on the Caucasus, and probably extends northward along the forests of the Ural. In Scandinavia, where it is
occasionally met with, it is called Kat-lo (Cat Lynx). Pontoppidan says that this Kat-gowpe is scarcely half the size
of the Warg-gowpe or Red Lynx, when it is, in fact, much larger. In Persia this animal is known by the name of
Vmrchach, according to M&nStri^s. The conspicuous spots and bars, which cover nearly all the body, together with
the rosy hue of the fin, will at all times easily distinguish this species from the better-known Felis canadensis.
General colour a rich roseate hue with a silvery tinge, the rose-colour becoming deeper or lighter in different fights.
Back and sides, front of fore legs, flanks, and hind legs to the knee, covered with large irregular bars and spots of blackish
brown. Head rather fighter than the body, sometimes faintly and thickly spotted with rufous; but generally the head
appears to be unspotted. Throat, inside of fore legs, belly, and front of the inside of hind legs white. Lower part of hind
legs outside rufous, unspotted. Tail short, but longer in proportion than those of the generality of the species of this
genus, rufous on top, white beneath, black for nearly two inches from the tip, and rather indistinctly barred above with
a rufous brown. Centre of ears silvery grey, edged around on the outer sides with blackish brown, this frin g e 0n the
extreme outer edge with rich buff. Legs brownish black. Nails white. Whiskers rather small, with a conspicuous
fine of dark brown running through them, coming from behind the eye. Nose to root of tail 43 inches, tail 10 inches.
The young are devoid of spots, excepting a few indistinct ones upon the inner upper portion of the outside of hind leg.
The general colour is rufous, with indistinct fines running down the centre of the head and back. Three or four distinct
black fines on upper lip. Throat, breast, belly, and inside of legs white. Tip of ears and tail black.
The skull is long and narrow, with a moderately high forehead and rather lengthened face; when seen in profile, the
upper outline is regularly arched. The nasals are very broad, and extend beyond the processes of the maxillas, and are
slightly pointed at their articulation with the frontal bone. Processes of prefrontals and premaxillas very long and narrow,
and those of the maxillas are rounded at their upper posterior ends. Orbits incomplete; interorbital space narrow.
Infraorbital foramen large and round. Brain-case long and rather narrow, with a median crest extending along its whole
length. Auditory bullse large, narrowing towards their anterior ends; the mastoid foramen narrow and contracted.
Lower outline of inferior ramus straight for its entire length. Canines large and strong, as are also the molars. Total
length about 7 inches. Description from a specimen in British Museum, no. 1156 a.