,ta nest in the Arche regions Hearne, when at York Fort, mentions having eaten this creature, and found the flesh white
and near y as good as that of the rabbit Many stories are current of this Lynx killing deer5 but it is probable that only
fawns fall a victnn, and it is very doubtfid if ,t would attack even them when protected by their dams. « Young fawnT"
saÿ Audubon and Bachman g as we have ourselves ascertained, are killed by these animals ; and farmers in some of the
wilder portions of our Northern States and of Canada complain of their carrying off their lambs and pigs The CanadI
Lynx, however is by no means so great a depredator in the vicinity of the farm-yard as the Wild Cat or Bay Lynx 2
his more retired habits mehne him to keep in the deepest recesses of the forests ; and, besides, for aught we know he mav
prefer -game to pigs and poultry.” De Kay, in the Zoology of the -Natural History of New York 1 savs it is the T„ ’
of the early French writers, and the Big Greg m id -ca t and Wolverene of the New-York hunter! I t is not unonmiT™^
the northern districts of the State, preying chiefly on hares and other small quadrupeds, and occasionally d e Z r to g
lambs, pigs, &c. is a timid animal, and easily killed. Its progress is said to be a succession o fle ap s alighting
on all four feet at once, but not advancing with great rapidity. Hence it is probable it usually obtains its prey by
B M M t0 the USUal habltS °f itS B ¡t h“s “ > of water, but swims well and for a long
distance^ It breeds once a year, and has two young at a time. Its flesh is tender, but insipid. The fur is much
esteemed; and a skini usually sells for from three to four dollars. I t is strictly a northern animal, the g eo g rapZ d
range being between 66" and 43" north latitude. geograpmcai
I have examined mrniy skins of this species from both hemispheres, and I cannot perceive any difference; and no
doubt toe animals are identically toe same. I t was first described by Desmarest in 1816 (I. c.) as F canadeneiv, wMch ”
toe name it must be known by. I cannot agree with Nilsson that this is the animal described by Linmeus aL F W
for vutnus anpkemm*, though certainly very applicable to the present species, may also be used for the winter co aH f
the European Bed Lynx, whose paws at that season are thickly covered with fin, and consequently broad, while corpore
rufescente macúlate çtoes not describe F. canadenm at any season of the year, but answers perfectly well for F W
Fur long, soft, fluffy. General colour hght grey; base of the hairs rufous, which gives a reddish tinge to toe coat ■ no
spoto or bands upon any part of the^ammal. Upper part of head and back darkest. Ears behind light Í W
middle; top and outer edges blade. Tufts of upright black hairs project from the point of toe ears, and are fo n s u L lu
ornamenta. Whiskers long white, with black on the edges. Underparta white. The fur upon toe l e g s 3 Z
very dense, sometimes extending onto the soles of toe feet. Tail very short, same colour as the body, and tipped with
Nose to root of tail 30 inches, tail 6 inches.
The skull when viewed m profile has the upper outline considerably arched. The fecial region is short » i i i
toe Une of the forehead. Nasals very broad, narrowing to their annulation with llMlWBiMHi
prefrontal and premaxilla very long and narrow, nearly meeting, and almost entirely separating toe nasd from toe
maxdlas. Orbits incomplete. Infraorbital foramina round and large. Brain-casc well' d e f i n e d 1 , ,
without central ridge. Auditory bullai nearly oblong, widest at their anterior ends. Mastoid f o Ü s Z l l d
narrow; external auditory foramina very large and round. Zygoma arched well outwards Lower Ó X e of f
m t t m I H B fr0m an8,e t0 B | Canines H H and toe molar ■ ■