117

LYNX.

Tuis animal, which belongs to the tiger or cat tribe,
is a very abundant one in the southern districts of
Europe and the northern parts of Asia and America.
It is a savage wild animal, and very difficult indeed
to tame. It has bright eyes and a mild aspect, by no
means corresponding with its real character. It is, we
see, in animals as in human beings, that we must not
always—nay we never should judge by appearances
only, for they are often most fallacious, and if we
trust only to them in forming a judgment, we shall
most assuredly very often be led wrong in our conclusions.
This animal is on the whole very lively and sprightly,
so much so, indeed, that any one who is more than
ordinarily quick and sharp-sighted, is called from it a
lynx-eyed person.

“The usual length of the common lynx is about four
feet and a half from the nose to the tail; or five feet
including the tail; and its height, one foot and four
inches. The fur is long, thick, and soft, of a greyish
ash-colour on the upper parts, with a reddish tinge,
marked with dusky spots, which differ much according
to the age of the animal, as sometimes they are scarcely
visible; and the under parts, are white. The legs and
feet are thick, short, and strong, covered with long fur;
and the tail black at its extremity. The ears are erect,
and have a long tuft of black hair at the tip; and the
eyes are of a pale yellow, and have nothing extraordinary
about their appearance, to give the slightest support to
the assertions of the ancients; namely, that the lynx