Notice of Vesperlilio Pruinosus. 77 



Gray in Jardine's Magazine of Zoology and Botany, vol ii., 

 p. 498, classes the present species in his Tribe iii. and Genus 

 Scotophilus of Leach. 



This beautiful and somewhat uncommon species of our Amer- 

 ican Mammalia, has been discovered as resident in this vicinity. 

 Three specimens have been presented to the Society's collection. 



The first was captured September 14th, 1838, while hanging 

 from a grape vine contiguous to the residence of Mr. Nath. Pope, 

 (near the crossings of the Andover and Newburyport turnpikes) 

 Danvers. Its dimensions were as follows. Extent of wings 16 

 inches. Length from vent to mouth 3 inches. Total length 

 from tip of nose to extremity of caudal membrane 5 1-2 inches. 

 Breadth of forehead between the ears three fourths of an inch. 



The second specimen was captured by the sons of Mr. John 

 Preston, about a mile north of the Village meeting house, Dan- 

 vers, on the first of October, 1838 ; confined in the Society's 

 rooms, it survived several days. 



The third was taken on the 22d of November, 1838, by Mr. 

 Rums Tapley, Danvers, near the last mentioned place. 



Say, in Long's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, has given 

 the first description of this species of Bat ; and we are indebted 

 to him for nearly all that has been written on its habits and char- 

 acteristic marks. He mentions it as being common in the vicin- 

 ity of Engineer Cantonment, where the expedition wintered ; 

 also of its being observed near Council Bluffs, by Mr. Nuttall ; 

 and that the late Professor Bartdn, presented a specimen of this 

 bat, that had been captured in Philadelphia, to the Philadelphia 

 Museum. It is probably common in ,the Western States, but 

 with us it must be considered as remarkable and rare. About 

 thirty years since, a specimen was observed by .Mr. Abel 

 Nichols, of Danvers, in this vicinity. 



The present species may be considered an important addition 

 to the Natural History of Essex County, and, in this point of 

 view, I trust, it will prove interesting. 



