6 NEW- YORK FAUNA. 



THE NEW-YORK BAT. 



Vespertilio noveboracensis. 



PLATE I. FIG. 2. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 



New-York Bat. Pennant, Arctic Zoology, Vol. ], 184. 

 Vespertilio noveboracensis. LiNNEUS, Syst. Gen. 

 Red Bat. Wilson, Am. Ornithology, Vol. 6, plate 50. 

 Vespertilio rufxis. Wakden, Disc. U. S. Vol. 5, 008. 

 Vespertilio noveboracensis. Harlan, Fauna Americana, p. 20. 

 V. id. GoDMAN, Am. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1, 68, figure. 



Taphozous rufus. Harlan, Faun. Am. p. 23. 



New-York Bat. Cooper, Ann. Lye. New-York, Vol. 3, 57. Kirtland, Zool. Report, p. 175. Emmons, Mass. Rep. 

 1840, p. 9. 



Characteristics. Color reddish tawny. Brachial membrane naked above, except near the body 

 and at the base of the phalanges. A patch of white hairs at the insertion 

 of the wings. 



Description. Ears broad, with an obtuse tip and a naked anterior lobe. Nostrils tubular, 

 with a few short black whiskers on the sides of the cheeks. Interfemoral membrane broader 

 than long, including the entire tail, and is supported by a bony process from the tibia on each 

 side a quarter of an inch long. This process is most obvious from beneath. The membrane 

 is naked beneath for more than two-thirds of its extent ; hairy above. Hind feet with five 

 subequal toes, of which the interior is shortest. Brachial membrane entirely naked, except 

 near the thumb. Dental formula : Incisors, f ; canines, | ; cheek teeth, y\ = 30. 



Color, of the head and cheeks reddish tawny, which is also the general color of the fur on 

 the body above, frequently mixed with white, and producing a light cream or hoary color, 

 and often a bright chesnut red. A small portion of the brachial membrane nearest the body, 

 and the whole of the interfemoral membrane, together with the legs, covered with tawny hair ; 

 this is longest, and varied with white, on the sides of the body. Beneath, the general color is 

 somewhat lighter, and the fur extends but a short distance down the interfemoral membrane. 

 A white patch of hair on the sides of the body near the insertion of the wings, most con- 

 spicuous on the under side. The brachial membrane is dark brown, with lighter colored 

 reticulations, and entirely denuded, except near the thumb-nail above and a short distance 

 along the course of the forefinger, where we may observe a few white hairs. On the under 

 side of this membrane is a patch of light tawny hair at the base of the phalanges, and extend- 

 ing sparsely along the forearm. 



Totallength, 3-0- 4-0. 



Length of tail, 1'5- I'S. 



Spread of wings, lO' 0-12-0. 



This is the most common species in our State, and can scarcely be confounded with any 

 other unless it may be with the Hoary Bat. It is usually, however, smaller, but resembles it in 



