Lynx
Urgent moment of nature is captured in this small illustration. A lynx is running after a smaller animal that is about to be caught up by its predator. Absence of any glimpse of background enhances the drama of the moment for it gives more sense of speed to the illustration. It is mentioned in the text that lynx is such a fast moving animal so that it does not stay at one place, where it is possible to guess the reason for the absence of background.
What is emphasized in the text, as well, is the fierceness of the animal, and its strong eyes. Gesner says, "Some have fabled that there is a Beast called Lynoeus, ..., that the eyes of it are the best sighted of all the Beasts in the world." Later in the text, again, mentions that lynx is the animal that sees the most brightly, so that its sight would pierce through anything including a thick wall. Looking detail into the illustrated lynx's face, its frown eyes are the most impressive, and deliver the personality and physical traits in an effective way. Here, it is possible that Gesner wanted to emphasized the fierceness of a lynx's eyes, when compare this illustration to its source of origin, Olaus Magnus' Carta Marina. As the text right above the illustration reads, Gesner took the illustration of lynx from Magnus' illustration. However, the detail of facial expression was enriched with emotion as Gesner copied the illustration of Magnus. The posture of the two animals, and physical appearances are almost identical in the two ilustrations but the lynx's eyes. In Gesner's, the eyes are more fierceful, strong and much more emphsized. Therefore, it is possible to guess that Gesner was not fully satisfied with the illustration from Carta Marina. This change from the original source bespeaks that Gesner trully wanted to convey even invisible traits such as its characteristics, personality and ability, via visual representation.