ORDER OF BATS 



323 



The Little Free-tailed Bat is a typical member 

 of the family, and is perhaps more numerous in 

 the southern United States than others. It is a 

 small, dark-colored Bat with several strong 

 marks of identification, such as the tail free for 

 nearly half its length from the membrane that 

 envelops the entire tails of other Bat families. 

 Besides this it has bristles on its face, as though 

 it were sadly in need of a shave ; and its fur has 

 a softer feel than usual. Its dark color and 

 velvety pelage are also good characters for 

 identification. Its nearest relatives are other 

 Bats, free-tailed like itself and belonging to the 

 family Molossidac. Of this group only five or 

 six venture further north than the Rio Grande. 



It is a sociable animal, almost always being 

 found in large colonies, when present at all. It 

 ventures forth early in the evening, evidently fol- 

 lowing the motto that the early Bat catches the 

 insect. It flies quickly and unerringly, and seems 

 to see pretty well in almost any sort of light 

 verging from the failing light of sundown to 

 total darkness. 



Another member of this family which deserves 

 notice is the California Mastiff Bat, one of the 

 largest of all Bats found in North America. It is 

 over six inches long, including the tail ; and when 

 its wings are spread out in flight it presents an 

 imposing appearance. It is found in Southern 

 California. 



CALIFORNIA LARGE-EARED BAT 



Macrotis californicus Baird 



Other Name.— California Leaf-nosed Bat. 



General Description. — A mediuiTi-.sized Bat with tall, 

 broad ears. Head small ; nostrils simple ; nose contains 

 an erect, simple " leaf " of cartilage and skin ; ears very 

 large, connected at bases ; tragus slender, pointed ; 

 wings broad, not furred; body of normal proportions: 

 interfemoral membrane small, concave in outline; tail 

 e.xtending beyond interfemoral membrane and nearly 

 one-half the total length. 



Dental Formula. — Incisors.i"^^ ; Canines -^ • Pre- 



2—2 ' I— I ' 



molars, ^^ ; Molars, 3=^^72. 

 '3—3 ' '3—3 ■^ 



Pelage. — Adults : Sexes identical, no noticeable 



seasonal variation. Above, grayish-brown ; below 



lighter; base of fur white; membranes light-brown; 

 pelage soft. Young: Color and markings similar to 

 adults. 



Measurements.— Total length, ^.y inches; tail verte- 

 brae. 1.6 inches: ear from crown, i.l inches; hind foot, 

 .4 inch ; expanse of wing, 13 inches. 



Range. — Arid region of southwestern United States. 



Food. — Insects. 



Remarks.- This Bat is the sole North American 

 representative of the family of so-called Leaf-nosed 

 Bats, the members of which are characterized by the 

 possession of a more or less modified cutaneous nose- 

 leaf. Other members of this group range south of the 

 United States. 



The California Large-eared, or Leaf-nosed Bat 

 is the only member of this family of Bats found 

 habitually north of the Rio Grande. There are 

 other members of this peculiarly-marked group 

 found in the topics. It seems to prefer hot or 

 arid lands, for its home in North America is 

 the desert region in the southwest. 



The distinguishing mark on the end of the nose 

 can be readily recognized. It seems to be made 

 up of thin leaves of naked skin. These append- 

 ages have various shapes, as of a wedge, spear, 

 or heart. Sometimes they are comparatively 

 small, and sometimes they are so large that they 

 form a kind of mask. In one instance, that of 

 De Blainville's Bat, a West Indian species, the 

 chin also has a convoluted extension of skin, 

 giving the animal a weird and tmcanny expres- 



sion, not unlike a huge rosette or double-flower ; 

 hence it is termed a " Flower-nosed Bat." 



There seems now to be little doubt that these 

 nose-leaves are in some way connected with that 

 " sixth sense " the possession of which by certain 

 Bats has been often demonstrated, and which 

 enables them to avoid all obstructions when fly- 

 ing in total darkness, and even when their eyes 

 have been sealed. 



The California Large-eared Bat has one of the 

 simplest forms of nose-leaf, with defined lower 

 border. It is a medium-sized Bat with large ears 

 which are united above and between the eyes by 

 a membrane. The lower lip is grooved, and there 

 is a small wart on each side of the groove. 



" I once kept a Large-eared Bat as a pet," 

 savs one observer, " and a most interesting little 



