1150 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



Life-history. 



RANGE The range of this well-known, yet mysterious, little creat- 



ure is nearly all of North America, excepting the tropics and 

 the polar regions. The map (No. 63) sets forth these facts 

 with black spots for the actual records. The only Manitoban 

 specimen I have is from Poplar Point. 



ENVIRON- This is a cave Bat — the common species indeed of the 

 MENT Mammoth Cave of Kentucky— and when no caves are available, 

 it finds acceptable substitutes in hollow trees and farm build- 

 ings, rarely frequenting towns. 



In old-established, happily placed hiding-places it is usual 

 for many to congregate. Thus the species is gregarious and 

 to some extent sociable, since the individuals profit by each 

 other's company in the matter of warmth. 



sociA- In flight, the Little Brown-bat may be distinguished from 



its remote kin by its small size, its early evening appearance, 

 and its erratic course. I do not know how to tell it from 

 subulatus. 



FLIGHT Oftentimes the chimney-swifts are out so late as to fly 



with this species. There are points of resemblance in their 

 flight, though that of the swift is without the erratic dodging. 

 Furthermore, it is usual to see 2 or 3 swifts careering along 

 side by side — a sociable style that I have never seen in any Bat. 



VOICE The voice of this, and indeed of all our Bats, is an exceed- 



ingly fine squeak, finer than that of a Mouse, and often heard 

 as they fly close overhead at night. When captured they 

 utter a volley of these squeaks, varied with a hissing and 

 fizzing sound. If a 'battery' be disturbed, they combine in a 

 deafening and unpleasant chorus of squeaking and chirring, 

 that reminds one of a nest of young swifts at food-time. 



It is a well-known fact that some persons, with otherwise 

 perfect hearing, cannot hear a Bat's squeak. Millais writes:' 



' Mam. G. B. & I., Vol. I, 1004, p. 54. 



