[Illustration: _Photo by A. S. Rudland & Sons._
The largest of the cat tribe left in Europe.]
In Siberia and North Russia most of the lynx-skins taken are sold to the Chinese. The lynx-skins brought to London are mainly those of the Canadian species. The fur is dyed, and used for the busbies of the officers in our hussar regiments. These skins vary much in colour, and in length and quality of fur. The price varies correspondingly. The Canadian lynx lives mainly on the wood-hares and on the wood-grouse of the North American forests. The flesh of the lynx is said to be good and tender.
Brehm says of the Siberian lynx: "It is a forest animal in the strictest sense of the word. But in Siberia it occurs only singly, and is rarely captured. Its true home is in the thickest parts in the interior of the woods, and these it probably never leaves except when scarcity of food or the calls of love tempt it to wander to the outskirts. Both immigrants and natives hold the hunting of the lynx in high esteem. This proud cat's activity, caution and agility, and powers of defence arouse the enthusiasm of every sportsman, and both skin and flesh are valued, the latter not only by the Mongolian tribes, but also by the Russian hunters. The lynx is seldom captured in fall-traps; he often renders them useless by walking along the beam and stepping on the lever, and he usually leaps over the spring-traps in his path. So only the rifle and dogs are left."
[Illustration: _By permission of Mr. S. B. Gundy_] [_Toronto._
Great numbers of these are trapped every year for the sake of their fur.]
The RED LYNX is a small American variety, the coat of which turns tawny in summer, when it much resembles a large cat. It is called in some parts of the United States the Mountain-cat. This lynx is 30 inches long in the body, with a tail 6 inches long. It is found on the eastern or Atlantic side of the continent, and by no means shuns the neighbourhood of settlements.
[Illustration: _Photo by Ottomar Anschütz, Berlin._
The last persons recorded as killed by these animals were an artist and his wife travelling in Hungary.]
[Illustration: _Photo by Ottomar Anschütz_] [_Berlin._
Cheetas can be distinguished at a glance from ordinary leopards by the solid black spots on the back instead of the "rosettes."]