> Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2000 05:33:06 EST
> From: TTrotsky_at_aol.com
> Subject: Re: Alynxes
>
> Mikko Rintasaari:
>
> << The size of a bobcat?!? The SIZ indicated in the rules means something
> more like a large European lynx (25kg) and ranging to something like 40 kg.>>
>
> The RQ SIZ is 1-6; a pretty wide range. The largest alynxes are about
> lynx sized, but most are smaller. The murni breed are housecat sized (SIZ 1).
This sounds interesting -- sadly, I have very little information up in my neck of the woods on any particular variations on Shadowcats or Yinkini or the like. The perils of living in the Great White North... Could you tell me more?
> << Also the shadow cat's are very magical, and have a royally amazing
> dexterity. >>
>
> Well, nobody said they *were* lynxes.
Ah, good. That's the rub, innit? Problem with the name alynx is that one thinks 'ah, a lynx...'
> <<This to me doesn't sound much like a bobcat, or even it's larger cousin the
> European lynx (biggest of the lynxes), since the poor lynx cats have lost
> their tails,>>
>
> Bobcat tails aren't so short, though.
Comparaively speaking. Bobcats and Lynxes have fairly short tails (they are still better off than, say, a manx cat) and move with more deliberation than, say, a cougar. I have observed both in the wilds (isolation DOES have its benefits)
> << and their long hind legs don't exactly give them good balance.>>
>
> Depends on your environment, I believe. Bobcats are pretty agile in rocky
> hill terrain (American lynxes less so, on account of the shape of their
> paws), which seems appropriate to Sartar, IMO.
Bobcats are more agile in bad terrain -- snowy areas and lower-hills. Cougars tend to stay to the upper hills adn more rugged terrain (where there is more exposed rock, I suppose) but come down from the heights following the deer, elk and sheep.
Bobcats are more pouncers than chasers, in the same way foxes have evolved into being a 'catlike canine' Most of the other cats which are more heavily built are designed for pounce and bite spine on prey similar or larger to themselves in size. The Bobcat is more of mouser - -- rabbits, hare, partridge (*everything* eats Partrige -- sort of an avian plankton, I think!)
They do compete with the wolves in the lowlands but I've come across dead wolves (torn appart) and NO idea what killed them -- probably cougar.
I would like to know what sort of hunting rourtines alynx's use -- the silver deer has been mentioned (but never caught till Odayla helped out). I think Yinkin's eyes are bigger than his stomach and most alynxes are probably too small to deal with sheep or larger prey...
> << At least in my mind the imagery in the RQ-2 description invokes something
> rather much like a huge European shorthair "felis sylvestris", or perhaps a
> sleek burman.>>
>
> Yes, I'd agree that that's true. I can safely say that that's no longer
> the official view, but its a perfectly good 'IMG' one.
Probably. But they do differer from the RL lynx considerably -- certainly in dexterity. What about that cat they are finding on the moors in Scotland recently? If nothing else, they ARE hard to find...
Jeff
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