ANIMALS OF ONTARIO. 91 



Order CHIROPTERA. (The Bats.) 



Mammals with the anterior limbs modified for flight by the elongation 

 of the forearm and especially of four of the fingers, all of which are con- 

 nected by a thin leathery membrane, which includes the hind feet and 

 usually the tail. The Bats are nocturnal in their habits, going into retire- 

 ment in the daytime and hanging head downward by their hind claws. 

 All our species are entirely insectivorous and are of great economic value 

 to farmers. In the minds of some people there is a strong prejudice 

 against bats ; these prejudices arise from superstition and ignorance, for 

 our bats are incapable of injuring any human being. They do not en- 

 tangle themselves in people's hair, nor do they carry bedbugs into houses 

 as is commonly supposed, but they do help to rid us of large quantities 

 of injurious insects and so are entitled to protection. 



FAMILY VESPERTILIONID^. 



Insectivorous Bats with the snout not appendaged ; wing membranes 

 ample ; tail completely enclosed in the interfemoral membrane or only the 

 last joint exserted ; fur of peculiar structure, each hair with, a series of 

 minute imbricated scales arranged in a spiral. All our bats belong to this 

 family. Most of them lie dormant in winter, but two species migrate 

 southward. 



GENUS MYOTIS. 

 (27) Myotis subulatus. 



(Little Brown Bat.) 

 Common and generally distributed. 



(*) (28) Myotis lucifugus. 



I have one record of this species from Wellington, where it was taken 

 by Mr. Brooks. 



GENUS LASIONYCTERIS. 



(29) Lasionycteris noctivagans. 



(Silver Black Bat.) 



Common and generally distributed, particularly abundant near the 

 Lakes. Migrates southward in winter. 



GENUS VESPERTILIO. 



(30) Vespertilio fuscus. 



(Brown Bat, Dusky Bat.) 

 Common and widely distributed. 



