F E L IS C A N A D E N S IS .
TH E N O R TH E R N L Y N X .
LYNX, Penn. H is t Quad. (1 7 9 3 ) p. 301. sp. 203.
FELIS CANADENSIS, Desm. Nouv. Diet. H is t Nat. (18 1 6 ) p. 108.—Id. Mamm. (18 2 0 ) p. 224. no. 346— Hartl. Faun. Am. (1825) p. 98.—
Griff. Anim. King. (1 8 2 7 ) vol. v. p. 174.—Less. Man. Mamm. (1 8 2 7 ) p. 191. sp. 513.—Swain. & Rich. Faun. Bor.-Amer. (1829)
jp. 101.—Fisch. Syn. Mamm. (1 8 2 9 ) p. 213. sp. 31.—Jard. Nat. Libr. vol. xvi. pi. 33.—Gapper, Zool. Journ. (1 8 3 5 ) vol. v. p. 203.—
Less. Nouv. Tab. Rfegn. Anim. (18 4 2 ) p. 57. sp. 548.—Gerv. Hist. Nat. Mamm. (18 5 5 ) p. 92.—Murray, Geogr. Distr. Mamm. (1866)
p. 101.
LE LYNX DU MISSISSIPPI, Buffon, Suppl. vol.,vii. pi. liii.
LYNX CANADENSIS, Raf. Am. Month. Mag. (18 1 7 ) vol. ii. p. 46.—Aud. & Bach. Quad. N. Amer. (1849) vol.. i. p. 136, pi. x v i—Baird,
U.S. Expl. Exped. (1 8 5 7 ) vol. viii. p. 99.
LE LYNX DU CANADA, Cuv. Ossem. Foss. (18 2 5 ) vol. iv. p. 443.—Buff. Suppl. vol. iii. pi. xliv.
FELIS BOREALIS, Temm. Mon. Mamm. (18 2 7 ) vol. i. p. 109, App. p. 251.—Less. Man. Mamm. (1 8 2 7 ) p. 184. sp. 490.—Id. Compl. Buff.
(18 3 9 ) vol. i. p. 411.—Wagn. Supp. Schreb. (18 4 1 ) vol.,iL p . 519.—Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. (1 8 4 2 ) vol. xi. pt. 2, p. (nec
Thunb.)
LYNCUS CANADENSIS, Gray, Cat. Mamm. Brit. Mus. (1 8 4 2 ) p. 46.—Severtz. Rev. Mag. Zool. (1858): p. 385.—Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc.
(1 8 6 7 ) p. 276.—Id. Cat. Carn. Mamm. (18 6 9 ) p. 37. ,sp. 3.
LYNCUS BOREALIS, De Kay, Nat. Hist. New York, (1 8 4 2 ) p. 50, pi. x. fig. 2 (nec Thunb.).
H a b . Northern districts of both hemispheres, Scandinavia and similar latitudes of the eastern continent, spreading
perhaps to the southward in Siberia, and along the forests of the Ural (B l y t h ) . Arctic regions of the
New World, Canada, less common in the Northern States of the Union, and not going further south than
Pennyslvania, but extending its range to California.
T h i s species of Lynx is common to the districts of the extreme north of both hemispheres wherever the forests extend.
I t is remarkable for the thickness of its fur and the shagginess of its paws, recalling, as remarked by Blyth, the feet of
some of the arctic birds, such as the Great Snowy Owl and Ptarmigan. There are no spots visible on any part of the
body, although the last-mentioned author states that the long fur of the underparts has some black spots more or less
brought out in different individuals. I take it this is exceptional, however; and the majority of specimens are spotless.
In Scandinavia it is known as the Rislo or Raf-lo (Fox Lynx). In the New World it is the only species of Lynx, according
to Richardson, which exists north of the great lakes. In those northern districts visited by this author, it was rare on
the sea-coast, and was not found on the barren grounds, although not uncommon in the woody districts of the interior.
Seven to nine thousand are annually procured by the Hudson’s Bay Company. I t was found on the Mackenzie River
as far north as latitude 60°. I t has an awkward, clumsy appearance on account of its thick legs and slender loins, and is a
timid creature, and preys chiefly upon the Hares found in those solitudes. It proceeds by bounds, with its back slightly
arched, and alights on all its feet at once. It swims well, and will cross the arm of a lake two miles in width. The
natives eat its flesh, which is white and tender but without much flavour.
Felis canadensis is the largest species of Lynx found upon the North-American continent, and is restricted to its colder
portions, not going farther south than Pennyslvania, where it is very rarely met with. It is shy and fond of seclusion,
keeping continually in the thick woods and dense thickets, and seldom approaches the vicinity of man’s habitation. Its
dense coat of fur enables it easily to withstand the excessive cold of an arctic winter, and, in those high latitudes of
both the Old and New Worlds, it maintains a precarious subsistence by catching hares, ptarmigan, young deer, &c.
Like all its relatives, the present species is capable of ascending trees; and snugly ensconced in some convenient fork,
it will frequently remain for hours, waiting a favourable opportunity to descend upon its unsuspecting prey. The Canada
Lynx generally produces two young, though sometimes three are found in a litter. Besides the animals already mentioned,
this Lynx preys upopi squirrels and also on grouse and other birds, sometimes seizing the wild goose when sitting on