The Canada lynx is a very stupid beast, and easily trapped--a method of
catching it generally adopted by the Hudson Bay Company, as in this way
its beautiful fur is uninjured by bullets.

The European lynx is a much larger, stronger, and more ferocious beast
than its Canadian brother. Its great hairy paws are like those of the
lion and tiger, which, strange as it may seem, are also members of the
pussy-cat family. It lives in wild Siberian forests (where large numbers
of trappers subsist on the proceeds of its valuable fur), in Norway and
Sweden, in Switzerland, and also in other countries where wild forests
exist. Vast numbers roam through the steppes of Asia and the uninhabited
portions of the Eastern world.

So much is this creature dreaded in Switzerland for its depredations on
the flocks that the shepherds whose sheep feed on the mountain pastures
do all in their power to exterminate this cruel enemy of their fold, and
a prize is offered by the government for every one killed.

Driven by hunger, the European lynx will often attack deer and other
large animals. A story is told of a lynx in Norway which, much against
its will, was forced to take a furious ride on the back of a goat. The
winter had been very severe, and failing to find food in the forests and
rocky barrens, a young lynx spied a flock of goats feeding among the dry
stubble of a field. Giving a quick spring, it landed on the back of a
large goat, with the purpose of tearing open the arteries of its
neck--its method of killing large animals. But the goat, feeling its
unwelcome rider, set out at a gallop for the farm-yard, followed by the
whole herd, all bleating in concert. The claws of the lynx had become so
entangled in the heavy beard of its intended victim that escape was
impossible, and the farmer by a skillfully aimed shot put an end to its
life.

Patience is largely developed in the lynx. It will lie stretched out for
hours, on a branch of a tree, watching for its prey. If anything
approaches, it crouches and springs. Should the rabbit or bird escape,
the lynx never pursues, but slyly creeps back to its branch, and resumes
its patient watch.

When captured very young, lynxes may be tamed, and have been known to
live on friendly terms with domestic animals, such as dogs and cats. But
they are never healthy away from their native woods, and usually die in
a short time. Even in the wild state the lynx is short-lived, and is
said rarely to reac