Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1851-01-24

hcen increased, by the extraordinary varia
tions in markings or color, which are pccu
liar to the Lynx rufus although the Canad'
Lynx is more strictly defined. Hafenesquc
even confoundod It into fifteen varieties, an,
When a nainials, is led into such crrurs, il Il
no, astonishing that the popular Judgment
should make mistakes. Indeed, myself for
long time held the opinion, based not only
on the varied size, markings, length of tai
aud ear-tui,s, Of the specimens which bad
either killed, or seen others I'LL. but as wei
upon paiien, survey of thousands of skins at
the fur warehouses IN ~. louis--iha, the
caiamount, or common wildcat was 4 cross
upon the occolct and Canada Lynx The occ.
ole, is true feline. Indeed. all these singu.
lar variations have had their effect on me, ior
] had seen the tail from one inch 10 four. and
the pelage no, alone iiinily banded, but mot.
tied through such regular transitions, from q
plain olive brown h. distinct markings. and
then To the very peculiar black and unmisiaka-
ble rO,clic, which belongs 10 the pelage Of the
occolel, that ] could not help thinking that
the Canada Lynx and the occole, may have
pcrPctra,cd a middle species. paraking a.
we'll in habits, as IN markings, the character.
ls,ics Of the tao Tho authors Of Quadu-
pcls Of America. however, take dilIrrcni
Vicw Of tho subject. They certainly bring
up many formidable instances io show That
they are right; aud until have spent as ma.
ny years as they have in personal dedication
to such Investigations, ! shNll fully accept,
Ih.ir nomenclature, They remark, in gcuer.
al terms, concerning the "pclagc:" :"
There are. however, at ~ Seasons Of the
year. even IN the same ncighborhold, strongly
marked varieties. and it Is difficult 10 find two
individual, precisely alike.
'Somc specimens are broadly marked with
lulyus under the throat. whilst IN other. the
throat A. well as the chm Is grey. IL some,
the stripes on the back and spots along tic
sidcs are vcry distinctly seen, whilst IN o,hcr-,
they are scarcely visible, and the animal -
gre,ish.brown above, with : dark dor,al
,,ripc.'
There arc slN specie. III lynN knoWn iu the
old world, aud. as they say, oHip too tp North
America | ava surely nigh, with rcgari To-
the old world. but whether they are, upon thu
kuo,ty point. right as iu Hi', W. will leave
Tor future investigation to determine b.
>,icnufc truth on whici' slds oi tn conlro.
very Il may, ih. anunli ,iscills a very inter.
csling ono. and intimately associated with the
legend md character, not oaly IT the pioneer,
bat o. the older population of our vide coun-
,ry. Tor It Is found cverywhcrr, lrOm ihc md
die To the cNirsms southern anl southwestern
hmil. Of scnlcmcul The Canada Lynx,
which il ~ llclIcnlly licnl,dci with u. cN-
,cIus ,tuu Hu mJun,ru, 90 Iuu,,i' ana 90
tic northern district Oi Canada With regard
TO the habit, oflhl Lynx rul4', lhc auihor VI
QIadruy,ds Uf America sly
The general appcar4Lcc of tins species
con,cys the idea Of degree of iyrucily,
which canuo, With gropIiely BE- considered as
belonging 10 10, chalacicr, although !, viii,
when Al bly, show it. sharp teeth, AMI With
oul,,rclrled claw, and uiar.Atrd despair, &c,
Icl the attack, OF c,lh-r iGln ur dog, Spul,cr.
ING the While asi ro!iiog %, cy,, Ike the
common cat, II i, how rcncully cow-
anly Nhcn attacked AMI always AIcs from
It's pnrsuers II il cln. aud although some an.
rcIote, have been related lo ~ ct the strength,
dlrinr. aud herccncsS of ih, animal, such A.
i,s having been known iu Kill, at different
times. a sheep. 4 iull grown doc a'acs a
child in the woods. etc. /; yci IN all th" ln'ian.
&C, tint have come under our own notice. NJ
have found It very iunL, and always rather
inclncl To beat 4 retreat, than To make an at.
tack on an animal larger Tina hare Or Young
pig
ln the pr,ccIing aHicli prot ,sic'l against
any wholesale dtnuncia,ion vi the native Wild
beasts of our continent as naturally cuwlTds.
|, sound, like sort uf lmpula,iun upon our
soil, tia, 1t Is no, strong enough To have
grown even Wild cats, plnlhrls and bears,
with the fall instincts Of Jcslrucinencss Pccu-
liar to their species elsewhere. Thcs, gcn.
tlencn entirely discrcdll What they call "lhe
stories" Of it, holdness Ia attacking larger
animals, men OF even children. We agree
that caution is highly commlndahle trait IN
the character OF the Naturalist, bot It may
carr him into absurdilics, too. What Is
here assorted may BE- true enough oi such
poor persecuiel feeble specimens OF these anI-
nal, AZ may he met with occasionally luTk'
ing s,ill abou, the borders Of swarnps IN the
old States, and even at no great distance from
some of our southern cliics--but that the Wild
cal did. and docs still, IN remote localities,
and during the ruiilng reason, attack grown
up men with prompt and Formidable herce'
ness, there IL abundant evidence. We have
spoken fully of ,ha, saluiary effect which the
terror OF our formidable rifle has gradually
impressed upon such creatures IN the progress
of our ci,ilizalion--but the ironller settle
menis furnish many indubiiablc instances OF
their natural ferocity. have myself heard
from the venerable lips Of some OF the honored
compcers Of Boone, in the settlement Of hen-
tueky, relations Of personal encounters held
by themselves on unexpected meetings with
these creatures. for which they were unprc-
pared, and from which they necessarily came
of terribly mulilaied. remember PaTiicn'
larly one instance in which the Wild cat was
me, by the narrator in the narrow path which
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