Silvery-bat 



1167 



young than in the adult. I have in my collection an old 

 female (New York State) without any silver tipping — brownish- 

 black everywhere. 



Life-history. 



From Miller's Revision, N. A, Vesp. Bals, 

 p. 85. Fauna 13. Biol. Surv. U. S, 

 Dept. Agr. 



This and certain other Bats are the only mammals in Amer- range 

 ica that range from the Atlantic to Pacific in a belt 1,000 miles 

 wide, without splitting up into several races. Obviously, their 

 wonderful powers of flight combine 

 with wandering habits to keep the 

 population thoroughly mixed. 



All of Manitoba falls within its in man- 



I 1 ITOBA 



breeding range; the spots on the map 

 show the actual records. 



"Like many other Bats, it has a envi- 

 decided liking for water-ways, coursing ment 

 up and down streams and rivers, and 

 circling around lakes and ponds. In 

 some places its habit of keeping directly 

 over the water is very marked. At 

 Lyon's Falls [on Black River, N. Y.] it is exceedingly abun- 

 dant, particularly just below the Falls. I have stood, gun in 

 hand, on a point on the east bank of the river, and have seen 

 hundreds passing and repassing, flying over the water, while 

 during the entire evening not more than two or three strayed 

 so far that if shot they would fall on the land."' 



Over the Red River where it runs through Winnipeg City 

 is a favourite flying place for this Bat. All the summer long, 

 in the evenings, they may be observed hawking for their prey in 

 this inviting open place. 



At Calgary, I was told by G. F. Dippie, it is abundant. 

 In the vicinity of Toronto, the Don Valley and the Credit 

 River Valley were evidently much to its taste. There I found 

 the species in swarms during the August twilight. But any 



' Merriam, Mam. Adir., 1884, p. 188. 



