FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



above; wings furred along forearm as far as wrist on under- 

 side. Larger than the Red Bat and gray instead of reddish 

 in color. 



Upperparts grayish white, with darker basal color of pelage 

 showing through ; hairs brownish black at base, then pale yel- 

 lowish brown, followed by a narrow band of chocolate-brown 

 and finally tipped with whitish. Underparts yellower and 

 without so much of the white tipping except on throat where 

 long hairs form a sort of ruff colored like back. Membranes 

 brownish black except for a narrow yellowish brown strip 

 along forearm and half way down fingers on upperside. 



Total length, 5.5 inches; tail vertebrae, 2.2 inches; hind foot, 

 .2 inch; forearm, 2 inches; wing expanse, 16 inches. 



Found in "Boreal North America from Atlantic to Pacific, 

 breeding within the Boreal Zone, but in autumn and winter 

 migrating at least to southern border of United States." 

 (Miller) 



******* 



The Red Bat is more of a tree Bat than the other North 

 American Bats and is consequently never found away from the 

 forests, except possibly during migration. It spends the day- 

 time hanging amongst the leaves and it rather closely re- 

 sembles a dead and brown leaf. It is said to be solitary in 

 habit and only one or two are found together. 



This Bat appears in the air rather early in the evening and is 

 not infrequently seen abroad in the daytime. It enters 

 houses in pursuit of insects just as does Eptesicus and Myotis 

 and can be readily identified by its very distinctive reddish 

 color. 



The Red Bat is a very rapid flyer and follows an erratic 

 course fairly well up above the ground. The rapidity of 

 flight, large size, and long narrow wings are the best field 

 characters. 



Bats of this genus have four mammae and the number of 

 young at a birth varies from one to four. If the mother has 

 four young the combined weights of her offspring may exceed 

 her own weight; and, since she carries them with her until 

 they are able to fly for themselves, it indicates very marked 

 powers of flight. 



The Hoary Bat is like the Red Bat in its preference for 

 forests, its long pointed wing, swift, erratic flight, and the 



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