The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-08
"voRAC1oUs VARIANTS. "
Destruction Caused by Beasts In the
Santa Cruz Mountains.
H. A. e.. L.. ~.

Destruction Caused by Beasts IN the
Santa Cruz Mountains.
From the San Jose NetCs
'Any one who thinks there are no wild
animals in this section is very much mis-
taken" said gentleman who has recently
been hunting In the mountains near Los
Gatos TO reporter for the Euening NeUs
"That there are animals, and some Of a very
formidable species, is quite evident to
parties who attempt to raise chickens and
other live STOCK in the Boulder Greek region
especially" he continued. II went there
recently with a party from Los Gatos to
try for some sport in the widely known
haunts Of the wild pigeon in that locality.
An early start found US at 8 o'clock on the
summit, and au hour later the first flock of
pigeons were sighted.
during the day a number of large
tocks of birds were encountered, and
goodly amount Of game was bagged. The
roads through the bottoms were so bad that
an attempt to make Boulder creek was
abandoned. Several specimens of the band
tailed pigeon were secured. They were of
a slate color withla white band OF feathers
across the back of the head, and fully as
large as the domesticated pigeon. The
madrone berries, Of which they are fond,
are all gone and the pigeons are not SO
plentiful as they were several weeks ago.
Eesldes the pigeons a number of Quail,
robins, squirrels and rabbits " ere secured.
"During the hunting trip the places of
several mountaineers were visited, and
they and their families told stories of hav-
ing recently seen wild animals of various
kinds. Some women folks in the vicinity
of the ranches Of Raymond and Jeff have
caught sight OF link Qynx), that has
been notorious IN times past for depreda~
tons among sucking pigs, chickens, ducks
and turkeys. Quite recently the animal
was also seen near Balls ranch, and he is
charged with being the cause Of the disap-
pearance of a number of fowls that had
been fatted for Christmas and New Years
dinners. Much anxiety is felt concerning
the movements of the destructive lynx, and
there would be much rejoicing among the
mountaineers over his capture.
George p. Brown, a blacksmith working
for Mr.. Erickson, got view of the animal
recently at a distance of a few hundred
yards. Being armed with a shotgun. he
attempted to approach near enough so the
charge would be effective, but the animal
took the alarm and made off. Reports re-
garding the size of the animal differ. Some
say 1t Is seven or eight feet long, but Brown
declares that this is exaggerated. The
lynx is not more than half as large as ia
represented by some Of those who have been
frightened by it. There are, he says. three
kinds of varmints included 10 the cat spe-
cies that are common to the Santa Cruz
mountains.
There Is a brindle cat with stumpy
tail and stout legs, somewhat larger ami
NAL, tan colored, than the well-known
lion. The description OF the lynx is entirely
different from any of these, as he is long.
low and nearly black, with some gray about
the ears and on the belly. This kind of ami
NAL is very rare 10 California, as is testified
by experienced trappers and hunters.
About forty years ago several specimens
we're seen in the Santa Cruz mountains, and
they were then thought TO be the Canadian
lynx, called by some the fisher. The fur IA
very valuable