THE HOARY BAT IN OHIO. 



L. S. Hopkins. 



The rarity of the Hoary Bat — Lasiureus cinereus Baeuvois — 

 in Ohio as well as the rather meager information to be had 

 concerning it and the scarcity of authentic specimens taken in- 

 the state, make it desirable to have a permanent record of a 

 specimen' taken in Kent, Ohio, August 12th, 1919, by Mr. A. R. 

 Balch and brought to the writer for identification. 



The bat in all probability would never have been noticed 

 had it not met with an accident which resulted in a badly 

 broken wing. As it was, its unusual size was the distinguishing 

 mark which directed attention to it. 



The specimen, after being carefully killed, was photographed 

 with the wings partially folded and also in an expanded position. 

 Unfortunately, the negative of the former position was broken 

 after the wings had been allowed to dry in the expanded posi- 

 tion in which it had been placed merely to show its size, which 

 was slightly over sixteen inches. 



From such literature*- as is available the following in- 

 formation is to be had. 



The Hoary Bat is the largest as well as the rarest of all 

 North American bats. Its fur is variously described as "a rich 

 chocolate brown, overlaid with white"; "fur mingled dark- 

 brown and light yellowish-brown more or less tipped with 

 silvery white"; "body colors rich chocolate brown or smoky- 

 fawn color, overlaid with white, giving it a brilliant hoary 

 appearance." 



In their "American Animals" Stone and Cram say of this 

 species : "In the north where they nest and make their home 

 among the forests and mountain fastnesses, they are only seen 

 occasionally and still less frequently are specimens obtained." 



It is rarely seen in this part of the United States and then 

 only as a migrant, since it spends its summer north of us from 

 Maine to Ontario and the New England mountains generally, 

 occasionally getting as far south as the northern Adirondacks, 

 while it winters to the south of Ohio. 



* American Animals, Stone and Cram, 1910; page 204. Jordan, Manual of 

 Vertebrates, 1899; page 330. Geological Survey of Ohio, Vol. IV, 1882, page 88. 



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