330 MAMMALIA 1 CHIIIOPTEEA. L. 



hanging, head downward, by their hind claws. Most of them are 

 insectivorous, a few in tropical regions feeding on fruits. About 

 400 species are known, chiefly of small size. The order is very 

 sharply defined, but it has probably sprung from the same stock as 

 the Insectivora. (x et/ P> hand ; irrepov, wing.) 



a. Insectivorous; ears large; no leaf -like appendage to snout; hairs with im- 

 bricated scales arranged in spirals. . . . VESPERTTLIONIDA;, 190. 



FAMILY CXC. VESPERTILIONID^E. (THE COMMON 



BATS.) 



Insectivorous Bats with the snout not appendaged, or merely with 

 two lateral excrescences ; wing membranes ample ; tail completely 

 enclosed in the interfemoral membrane or only the last joint ex- 

 serted ; fur of peculiar structure, each hair with a series of minute 

 imbricated scales arranged in spiral. The largest family of bats, 

 with about 16 genera; especially abundant in temperate regions. 



a. Nostrils simple, at tip of snout; ears moderate; forehead not grooved. 

 J. Incisors f:. 

 c. Teeth 38 ; muzzle narrow, hairy in front of eyes ; ears as long as head ; 



slender species with thin wings and ears MYOTIS, 564. 



cc. Teeth 32 to 36; muzzle nearly naked before eyes; ears shorter than 

 head; stout species with thick wings and ears. 



d. Teeth 36 ; molars I LASIONYCTERIS, 565. 



dd. Teeth 34; molars f PIPISTRELLUS, 566. 



ddd. Teeth 32; molars f VESPERTILIO, 567. 



Kb. Incisors \'.\. 



e. Teeth 30; upper incisors small; wings and interfemoral mem- 

 branes nearly naked NYCTICEIUS, 568. 



ee. Teeth 32; upper incisors stout; interfemoral membranes hairy 

 above, the wings with furry patches. . . . LASIURUS, 569. 

 aa. Nostril margined behind by grooves and glandular prominences; cheeks 

 with large excrescences ; ears very large (an inch high) ; teeth 36. 



CORYNORHINUS, 570. 



564. MYOTIS Kaup. (/*$, mouse ; ovs, ear.) 



1089. M. subulatus (Say). LITTLE BROWN BAT. Face small, 

 fox-like, with high forehead and pointed snout ; ears large, slender, 

 nearly twice the height of the erect tragus ; ears reaching beyond 

 nostril when laid forward; wings naked; interfemoral membrane 

 naked except at base; face whiskered; color dull olive-brown. 

 L. 3. E., 9. T. 1|. E. X. Am., abundant everywhere; very 

 variable. (Lat., awl-shaped.) 



1090. M. lucifugus (Le Conte). Ear and tragus short and 

 broad, the ears reaching nostril when laid forward. L. 3|. Color 

 glossy dull brown. E. N. Am,, common. (Lat., shunning light.) 



