Silvery-bat 1169 



opening near the woods seemed in some degree an acceptable 

 hunting ground. 



Nothing is known of the individual range of any of the individ- 

 Bats, but, gifted with such powers, they doubtless emulate range 

 those birds that range for miles to seek their favourite food. 

 All the circumstances of their environment, habits, food, and 

 powers, emphasize their analogy to the swallows. The Bats 

 are the swallows of the night, and light on the home-range of 

 the swallows will be side-light on the home-range of the Bats. 



Like most of our mammals, they are subject to fluctua- 

 tions of their numbers in periods covering several years. Thus 

 the Silvery-bat was common at Winnipeg in 1905 and 1906, 

 but only one was reported all through the season of 1907. 

 These variations of the population are wholly uncomprehended; 

 indeed, the first step towards comprehension — exact observa- 

 tions on their time, etc. — has not yet been taken. 



The remarks on the voice of the Little Brown-bat apply voice 

 equally to this one. 



All of our Bats, except the Hoary, are known to gather grega- 



RIOUS 



together in numbers when lured by some especially desirable 

 and commodious dormitory. In the Seneca Point 'battery,' 

 described later, 9,640 Bats, by actual count, were killed, be- 

 sides nearly 2000 not included, before the colony was extirpated. 

 It is probable that most were of the present species. 



Thus, while highly gregarious, they are also slightly soci- 

 able, since they profit by each other's company. 



The rut is believed to be in late August or early September, rut 

 as with others of the family, but there are several unwritten 

 chapters in this department of the vespertilion history, and 

 attempts to write them have resulted in the discovery of new 

 mysteries to be solved. 



The male takes no part in the rearing of the young; in 

 fact, he is conspicuously absent at all times when the female 



