Thanks for the reply! I never realized Lynx were anymore intelligent than other Cats. Must be amazing to watch one hunt in it's natural environment. And the info about how the Scottish believed they could transcend worlds is very interesting. It's akin to how the Native Indian's believed that Crow's could take recently deceased spirirts over to the realm of the dead.
Good stuff.
The Ancient scots had loads to say on nature, although unfortunately, when christiaanity came along, their views on nature ( which were observations and lessons ) in problem solving, and respecting your environment... which all turned to superstition too quickly.
Here are a couple of more animals they had a ton of respect for.
The Scottish wildcat.. at first glance, it looks like a domestic out in the wild.But it is actually a very very very old species of cat. the oldest in europe if i'm not mistaken. One thing the Scots noted of this cat, was its utter hellish ferocity and desire to remain to free! Many Scottish clans feared this fiesty cat due its never say die attitude. Its known to maul farmers dogs and simply will not back down from a fight. So if you want to know what your domestic cat was like before it was reduced to chasing string balls and eating slop from a tin.
^^ A funny looking cow with long hair to most...But a guardian to us, as they are a very ancient bread of bull. Their toughness has been noted world wide, which is why you will now see them throughout as Farmers from around the globe buy them for 3 reasons.
1,they are tougher than brass balls and have a huge instinct for protecting its pack.. ( you can put them in a field of sheep or ducks ) and itll protect them like they are his own.
2, they are highly valued and the meat is rich!
3, Highland cows laugh in the face of predators, bread for their ability to lay into a pack of wolves..one bull is tough enough, but a field of them is certain death.
to humans however, they are the gentle postcard cuddly toys you see them as. they like being petted, so long as you take the time to let it get to know you.
As i've said before i hear the cry and see the swoar of a golden eagle every summer without fail for most my life as weve a breading pair where i live. The day i no longer hear or see such a thing will truly be a sad summer, as the king of the sky embodies all that is good about summer in the highlands.
There is a restraunt i like to eat at, which is built on a little lake ( lake not loch ) as its man made,and every summer the place is packed with Swans/ducks the lot. The swan to me, is the one animal in the kingdom that is the living breathing example of living in the now.
And if you'll allow me to dip my hand into the bag that is my childhood memories, ive found the animal i got drafted to study for out amazon project.
the one animal that flys in the face of ( life / death / struggle / stress ) natures very own lovable pot smoking hippie.....ladies, gentlemen, i leave you with......