Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-07-13
THE LYNX IN NORWAY.
Some of His characteristics, and How He Is
Hunted,


Hunted.
The lynx is very troublesome ami
NAL in Norway, and the folds of the
farmers are never safe from his depre-
dations. All day long the lynx lies in
some cool covert, and as the night
comes on or in the gray of the morning
he descends upon the sheep, satisfying
the cravings of a bloodthirsty nature
by killing all that comes in his way. Il
is not an uncommon occurrence for a
farmer to lose ten or twelve sheep in
one night. During the winter the
lynx kills foxes and harcs and those
birds which he can surprise in num-
hers, and what seems incredible, some
times attacks elk. LynXes vary in
size, the largest ones being but trifie
smaller than wolf, while others are
as small as domestic cat. At times
they are very fcrocious, and often
attack dogs without the slightest prov
ocation.
The lynx being proverbial for acute.
ness of sight, often outwits the hunt
ers; but after discovering the track OF
a lynx, the usual way of following him
is this: A man follows the tracks in
the snow until he has reason to believe
that the lynx is not far distant. Then
starting either to the right or left, as
the nature of the ground permits, he
describes large circle. Should he not
again fall in with the track, he is OF
course aware that the lynx is within
the circle. If, on the contrary, he
again cuts the track in his detour, he
makes fresh circuit from that point
and so on, until he succeeds by degrees
provided always there be no cause tc
think the animal is on the alert, in
which case to do SO is perilous work
In this way the lynx is sure to be found
sooner or later.
The question of running the lynx
down on snowshoes has often been dis
cussed. A young Norwegian, who has
gained quite reputation for killing
bears and elk, was once persuaded tC
attempt it. He started out on a bril-
liant moonlight night and kept on fol
three days and nights, resting in two
of the nights only, and then in disgust
gave it up, as the lynx persisted il
keeping to the thickest brakes anc
hardly ever crossed a bit of open tC
give the pursuer the chance of squirt
The only sure way to bag lynx il
to hunt him with dogs expressly broker
for the purpose; but for visitors this il
an extremely difficult matter, as dogs
that viii face lynx are not easily OBJ
tanned. The "elghund" used in Scandi
navia for elk and bear hunting usually
an Esquimaux or mongrel of tina
breed would eagerly follow the lynn
and bring him to bay; but well bro
ken dog of this species is so valuabl,
that his owner would be unwilling t
slip him upon an animal that would
certainly MAIN him for life if not xii
him altogether Dogs of this sort sci
from one hundred to three hundred
dollars, according to their sporting
merits.
One can seldom be certain of shoot
ing lynx when beaters try to driv'
him towards you, stationed on one sid,
of the ring, with other shooters in
line. He can easily hide himself iron
the heaters in trees, rocks, etc, and ais,
seems to possess certain degree of tn
cunning of the fox When the ford
are frozen the lynx sometimes make
expeditions to the islands in the vicin
ity Of his abiding place.
AS rule, It is only young lynxe
that take to tree when hunted o
alarmed, but exceptions occur. TIL
lendsman of Skjaerdalen, kind o
constable, waiting at the post for
hare which he knew to be afoot by tn
baying Of the dogs, was amazed to Sc
a large gray animal, very unlike
hare, come bounding out of the bralt
and rush up tree near him. He fire.
both barrels of his gun with no appal
ent effect, and speedily loading agaiI
called out to the man on the next pos
to come quickly, as there was bear il
the tree. He then went underneatl
the tree and fired third time, wher
the animal crushed through tn
branches to the ground dead. 1t prove
to be very large lynx, quite two fee
in height,
The color of the lynx is generally Q
a dark reddish gray, spotted with rec
dish brown, but when the snow fall
he turns light gray or cream colo
and the spots are not to be distinguish
ed. Hartford Courant.