282 BA TS 



The largest of the more typical species of this genus is the well-known hoary 

 bat (A. cinerea}, ranging from Nova Scotia to Chili, and characterized by its 

 ashy-gray color. Dr. Hart Merriam, writing of the habits of this fine bat in 

 the Adirondack mountains near New York, observes that it "can be recognized, 

 even in the dusk of evening, by its great size, its long and pointed wings, and the 

 swiftness and irregularity of its flight. It does not start out so early as our other 

 bats, and is consequently much more difficult to shoot. The borders of woods, water 

 courses, and roadways through the forests, are among its favorite resorts ; and its 

 nightly range is vastly greater than that of any of its associates. While the other 

 species are extremely local, moving to and fro over a very restricted area, this trav- 

 erses a comparatively large extent of territory in its evening excursions, which fact 

 is probably attributable to its superior powers of flight." Of the migratory habits 

 of this bat, which is rare in the Adirondack region, we have already written. 



Far commoner in the Adirondacks is the red or New York bat {A. novebora- 

 censis), which is of smaller size, and conspicuous for its bright golden fur, tipped 

 more or less markedly with silver. This species, which is second only in beauty to 



the hoary bat, is widely distributed in North 

 America, and represented by several varieties 

 in South America. According to the writer 

 last quoted, it generally makes its appearance 

 earlier than the other species, and may even 

 be occasionally seen abroad on cloudy after- 

 noons long before the shades of evening have 

 begun to fall. Dr. Coues states that " in most 

 HEAD OF HOARY BAT. portions of the United States the red bat is 



one of the most abundant, characteristic, and 



familiar species, being rivaled in these respects by the little brown bat ( Vespertilio 

 subulatus) alone. It would be safe to say that in any given instance of a bat enter- 

 ing our rooms of an evening, the chances are a hundred to one of its being one of 

 these two species. The perfect noiselessness and swiftness of its flight, the extraor- 

 dinary agility with which it evades obstacles even the most dexterous strokes 

 designed for its capture and the unwonted shape, associated in popular supersti- 

 tion with the demons of the shades, conspire to produce repulsive feelings that need 

 little fancy to render weird and uncanny. ' ' 



As is the case with many of its North American allies, this bat generally 

 hibernates in large colonies, which select for their retirement a cave or hollow tree. 

 The following account of a visit to a cave, in the year 1816, probably refers to this 

 species, and gives a good idea of the vast numbers of individuals composing one of 

 these colonies. The describer, Professor J. Green, as quoted in 1842 by Dr. J. D. 

 Godman, writes that " I this day (November ist) visited an extensive cavern about 

 twelve miles south of Albany, New York. I did not measure its extent into the 

 mountain, but it was at least 300 or 400 feet. There was nothing remarkable in 

 this cave except the vast multitudes of bats which had selected this unfrequented 

 place to pass the winter. They did not appear to be much disturbed by the light 

 of the torches carried by our party, but upon being touched with sticks, thev 



