d heavy,
so many persons assume that it is three times as ferocious, and
therefore to be dreaded almost like a Tiger. The fact is, the American
Wildcat or Bobcat is a very shy creature, ready to run from a very small
dog, never facing a man and rarely killing anything bigger than a
Rabbit.

I never saw but one Bobcat in the Yellowstone Park, and that was not in
the Park, but at Gardiner where it was held a captive. But it came from
the Park, and the guides tell me that the species is quite common in
some localities.

It is readily recognized by its cat-like form and its short or bob-tail,
whence its name.

[Illustration: XXXVI. (a) Tracks of Deer escaping and (b) Tracks of
Mountain Lion in pursuit
_Photos by E. T. Seton_]

[Illustration: XXXVII. The Mountain Lion sneaking around us as we sleep
_Sketch by E. T. Seton_]

MISUNDERSTOOD--THE CANADA LYNX

The southern part of North America is occupied by Bobcats of various
kinds, the northern part by Lynxes, their very near kin, and there is a
narrow belt of middle territory occupied by both. The Yellowstone Park
happens to be in that belt, so we find here both the Mountain Bobcat and
the Canada Lynx.

I remember well three scenes from my childhood days in Canada, in which
this animal was the central figure. A timid neighbour of ours was
surprised one day to see a large Lynx come out of the woods in broad
daylight, and walk toward his house. He went inside, got his gun, opened
the door a little, and knelt down. The Lynx walked around the house at
about forty yards distance, the man covering it with the gun most of the
time, but his hand was shaking, the gun was wabbling, and he was
tormented with the thought, "What if I miss, then that brute will come
right at me, and then, oh, dear! what?"

He had not the nerve to fire and the Lynx walked back to the woods. How
well I remember that man. A kind-hearted, good fellow, but oh! so
timid. His neighbours guyed him about it, until at last he sold out his
farm and joined the ministry.

The next scene was similar. Two men were out Coon-hunting, when their
dogs treed something. A blazing fire soon made, showed plainly aloft in
the tree the whiskered head of a Lynx. The younger man levelled his gun
at it, but the other clung to his arm begging him to come away,
reminding him that both had families dependent on them, and earnestly
protesting that the Lynx, if wounded, would certainly come down and kill
the whole outfit.