MAMMALS OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 



61 



As they grow stronger, she usually leaves 

 them clinging to a sheltered place where 

 she returns after her trips for food. They 

 grow very rapidly and are hunting for 

 food themselves when but a few weeks 

 old. 



Yosemite bats feed entirely on insects, 

 which they chiefly garner while on the 

 wing. Water is usually taken by swoop- 

 ing low over the surface and scooping it 

 up. All of the bats in the United States 

 are insect eaters. Since an individual bat 

 may consume a quarter of its own weight 

 in one meal or half its weight in a night, 

 we may assume they are generally bene- 

 ficial to the interests of man. 



In size the Yosemite species range from 

 the tiny Merriam canyon bat, which is 



less than three inches long with a total 

 wingspread of less than eight inches, to 

 the California mastiff bat, with a total 

 length of 6 l /z inches and a wingspread of 

 19 inches. This is the largest species in 

 the United States. 



One of the rarest mammals, the spot- 

 ted bat, has been found in Yosemite Val- 

 ley on two occasions. These are two of 

 only ten specimens known to science. 

 One was found in August 1931, by the 

 cook at the Government mess hall, hang- 

 ing under the eaves of the building. The 

 other was found by the son of a visitor 

 in Camp 15, August 13, 1951. Anyone 

 finding such a bat in or near the park 

 should immediately bring it to the atten- 

 tion of the Yosemite Museum staff. 



RABBITS AND THEIR ALLIES — The Lagomorphs 



The Yosemite cony, or pika, is a 



dweller in the high-country rock slides 

 above the fir forest belt. One of its other 

 names, "rock rabbit," gives a clue to the 

 nature of the little animal. However, it is 

 only about one-third the size of our 

 smallest rabbit; the ears and eyes are com- 

 paratively small; and the hind legs are 

 but little longer than the front ones. The 

 tail is so diminutive as not even to be 

 visible through the rabbit-like fur. 



The traveler on our high-country trails 

 will have little difficulty discovering the 

 cony, if he will remain quiet while ob- 

 serving a suitable rock slide. Presently, 

 the little fellows will begin their loud, 

 squeaking calls from various parts of the 

 slide. The observer will still need to look 

 a while before the animals are sighted, be- 

 cause there is a ventriloquistic quality 

 to the call, which seemingly comes from 

 where the animal "isn't." 



Patience will be rewarded by the sight 



of the conies clambering nimbly over the 

 tallest and steepest of the boulders, or 

 perched on top of one of them, "bleat- 

 ing" away. While they are active mainly 

 in the daytime, it is not impossible to 

 see or hear them abroad on the brilliant 

 moonlit nights for which the High Sierra 

 is noted. 



This little animal literally "makes hay 

 while the sun shines." Grass, sedges, and 



<''*'■*+* -'*M 



From KoJachrome by M. V. Hood 

 Cony's haypile. 



