DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF BAT 



FROM THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. 



( Vespertilio ciliolabrum sp. nov.) 



BY DR. C. HART MERRIAM. 



(Read November 27, 1886.) 



* 



Specimens of a small and apparently hitherto undescribed 

 species of bat have reached me from two widely separated 

 localities in the Western United States. The first were col 

 lected by Mr. A. B. Baker in Trego County, Kansas ; the 

 second by Mr. A. W. Anthony in Grant County, in the ex 

 treme southwestern corner of New Mexico. 



Mr. Baker writes me that " the first two of these bats were 

 found in bluffs or canons near the town of Banner, and were 

 hidden away in clefts in the chalk rock. The others were 

 captured at a bluff several miles distant. They -had secreted 

 themselves in abandoned swallows' nests which were inacces 

 sible ; but the bats were easily dislodged by means of stones. 

 They were followed to their various places of refuge, and seven 

 were secured." 



These bats belong to the group of American Vesper tilios, of 

 which V. nitidus may be considered fairly typical. They differ 

 from V. nitidus, however, in size, proportions, and color, as 

 well as in the much larger size of the ear. 



The Kansas specimens vary in color from nearly pure white to 

 pale yellowish-brown, or even isabella-brown, while those from 

 New Mexico are tawny-isabella above and much paler under 

 neath. 



