The Red Bat 



Nyctnis hnrealis horealis 



The little red bat is the most beautiful of our 

 native bats and vies with birds for a place among con- 

 spicuously colored animals. Its general color is a bright 

 reddish brown, paling to a light yellowish red in some 

 individuals. There is also a whitish patch in front of 

 each shoulder. The red bat has a total length of 

 slightly more than four inches and a wing spread of 

 nearly twelve inches. 



The red bat frequently rests on the trunks or 

 twigs of trees during the day, hanging head downward, 

 holding on with its tiny claws, and is the first to venture 

 forth in the evening, usually making its appearance 

 before dark. It frequently enters houses and churches 

 in search of food and it generally receives an unwel- 

 come reception. 



The red bat is the most solitary of its kind and 

 ordinarily shuns caves where other species congregate 

 in great numbers, although it sometimes congregates 

 in clusters probably during the mating period. The 

 red bat is widely distributed and it migrates from the 

 Northern regions, as do birds, at the approach of cold 

 weather. 



The red bats have long narrow wings and are 

 extremely graceful and agile in their flight. Bats are as 

 careful in their protection of their young as are birds 

 and mother bats will often raise quite a fuss when the 

 young are taken from them. The red bat bears from 

 two to four young, which remain with the mother for 

 some time, clinging to her body. Quite often the com- 

 bined weight of these young ones is in excess of the 

 mother's weight and it is remarkable that she can fly 

 so well with such encumbrance. 



