Show I Few Animals Beat i Wildcat in Fight th the only animal m man n In to Included Included ABOUT who can lick hit his weight In wildcats wildcat Is another wildcat wild wild- cat Pound for tor pound the American Ameri Amerl I can wildcat or bob bobcat at Lynx I tutus rufus is la probably at as capable a fighter tighter as AI there Is In the animal world The bobcat it is a distinct species not to be confused contused with the larger cougar or mountain lion Uon or with his Canadian cousin the lynx lie He Is la similar to the lynx In that he hat has the same tame short or bob tall tail but buthe buthe buthe he Is smaller prefers prefer warmer wormer climates ells cli mates mate and his hit ears urs are not so to markedly tufted This redoubtable scrapper Is found In all aU parts of the United States wherever States wherever there is sufficient cover such as forest cut over cut over countr country country coun coun- tr try canebrakes brushy bottomlands bottom lands and the scrub growth of ot the west's arid and canyons Unmistakable bobcat sign has been found within 23 29 miles mites ol of downtown Manhattan and there Is not a State that does docs not harbor some of these animals Because they live concealed lives end and are seldom seen no reliable estimate has ever been made of the number of wildcats in the United States But Dut experts agree they are on the increase The animals animal's secretiveness Is not due to lack tack of courage but rather to caution Like many other capable capable capable capa capa- ble fight fighters en bobcats are willing to let prudence take the place of valor vator when fighting is unnecessary They will go to great lengths to avoid man and will flee from dogs dOi they can cut to ribbons This widely distributed predator Is a silent hunter and usually makes little noise but in a fight he will spit and snarl and scream In the January and February mating season his courtship song has an astounding range ranie volume and variety A spring litter usually numbers from two to four tour The kittens stay with the mother during the summer summer sum sum- mer learning the fine art of keeping alive aUve Frequently the litters remain remain re reo re- re main together for their first winter win ter with each yearling cat going his solitary way the next spring I |