MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 211 



ical distribution, and specimens of each generally occur in collections from 

 the same localities, whenever the number of specimens received is at all 

 large. They are sometimes found in cool weather clinging together in the 

 same " festoons." 



Each species ranges, according to Dr. Allen, from ocean to ocean, and 

 from very far north nearly or quite to the tropics. 



Prior to 18G4 only five species of bats were currently reported from 

 New England ; Dr. Allen's Monograph nearly doub'ud the number, increas- 

 ing it to nine. Only six, however, are recognized in the present catalogue, 

 one only (Scolophilus gcorgianus) having been added to those previously 

 well known. 



In respect to the many species of bats imperfectly described by some 

 of the earlier authors, I have little hesitancy in referring to V. subulalus 

 of Say the following : — 



T r . lucifugus Le Conte, Cuv. An. King. (McMurtrie's ed.), 1831, p. 431. 



V. Caroli Zimm., Man. de Mam., II, 1835, p. 236. 



V. grtjphus F. Cuv., Nouv. Ann. du Mus. d'Hist. Nat, I, 1832, p. 15. 



V. Salari Ibid., p. 16. 



V. crassus Ibid., p. 18. 



V. georgianus Ibid., p. 1G. 



V. subflavus Ibid., p. 1 7. 



V. brevirostris Pr. Maximilian, Verzeich. Beobach. Saugethiere in Nord 

 Amer., p. 10. 



V. monticola Aud. and Bach., Journ. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sc, Vol. VIIL 

 1842, p. 280. 



V. virginianus Ibid., p. 282. 



V. californicus Ibid., p. 285. 



V. Leibli Ibid., p. 284. 



SORICID.S5. 



43. Neosorex palustris Verrill.* (Sorex palustris Rich. ; 



individuals of any given nationality of men or breed of domesticated animals, in which 

 such variations are patent to the most casual observer. In wild animals it needs only 

 a critical comparison of many individuals of any species, concerning the identity of 

 which there is no question, to satisfy careful investigators that it is equally thecase 

 here. It fails to be as well recognized only because it is impossible for us to be in suf- 

 ficiently intimate relation with animals in a state of nature. In many Instances where they 

 are brought under the same conditions relatively for observation, as hi the case of dif- 

 ferent species of rvidce, when kept in parks, it is soon detected. In this connection 

 compare the observations of Judge Caton on " American Cervidre " (seaanlea, p. 194). 



* Notice of a Neosorex from Massachusetts, and of Sorex Thompsoni from Maine. By 

 A. E. Verrill, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. IX (Oct. 1862), p. 164. 



