AMERICAN BATS — HANDLEY 159 



Many references to P. rajinesguii specify that no other species 

 of bats were found in the same building or cave. Stupka (1954, in 

 litt.) mentioned that the abandoned house near Gatlinburg, Tenn., 

 in which he found big-eared bats for several years, was shared with 

 wood rats {Neotoma). Pipistrellus was found on four occasions and 

 Plecotus twice in a Florida culvert, but not on the same dates (Moore, 

 1949a, p. 60). 



The sleeping P. rqfinesguii hangs head downward with its ears 

 curved backward and flattened against the sides of its neck. In this 

 position the anterior edge of the ear is uppermost and forms a half 

 ellipse. The posterior portion of the ear folds along its transverse 

 ribs like an accordion. When the bat wakes the ears are usually 

 straightened slowly (Hahn, 1909, p. 619). 



Residents of the Okefenokee Swamp told Harper (1927, p. 280) of a 

 peculiar motion of the ears of these bats. One was discovered on 

 the wall of a commissary when it attracted attention by "waving" its 

 ears. Another that was seen several times in a railway telephone 

 booth "wagged" its ears alternately. Several other informants also 

 mentioned "ear-wagging." 



P. rqfinesquii must be strictly nocturnal, for it has never been 

 observed in twilight flight. 



Hahn, (1908, p. 177) experimented with the ability of bats to avoid 

 obstacles. His subjects were mostly Myotis and Pipistrellus but 

 included one Plecotus rajinesguii. The big-eared bat struck vertical 

 wires 52 out of 102 chances, while in contrast Myotis and Pipistrellus 

 struck on 24 to 25 percent of the chances and Eptesicus on 67 percent. 

 In these experiments there may have been a relationship between 

 wingspread of bat and success of avoidance. Hahn noted that the 

 flight of captive Plecotus was swift and steady and that both Myotis 

 and Plecotus in attempting to escape from a captivity room repeatedly 

 flew against window panes and screens with great force. 



Several references to P. rajinesguii indicate a variable agility in 

 avoiding capture. One that began flying about during a service (17 

 July) in the meeting-house on Billy's Island in the Okefenokee Swamp 

 was caught by hand by a member of the congregation (Harper, 1927, 

 p. 280). Goodpaster and Hoffmeister (1952, p. 365) found (25 May) 

 a Plecotus hanging in the upper part of a cistern that had an opening 

 at the top 2K feet in diameter. When disturbed the bat first flew to 

 the bottom of the cistern and there circled until forced to attempt to 

 escape through the top. It was then captured by hand. Hahn (1909, 

 p. 619) saw two of these bats on 22 February in a cave at MitcheU, 

 Ind. They avoided capture and flew out of the cave into the cold 

 winter air. A solitary individual in a mine tunnel in Illinois (5 Octo- 



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