28o 



BATS. 



cxcursioii.s in uvuiiiiij;' and early morning, can only be conjectured. I am inclined 

 to favour the latter view, for the reason that the greater number always disappear 

 before the darkness becomes sufficiently intense to hide them from sight." 



We may conclude this somewhat long account of the genus Vesper ugo (which 

 is, however, short in comparison with the extent of the genus) by mentioning that 

 there are three species which differ from all the rest in having only a single pair of 

 incisors in the upper jaw. These species are V. schltefenii, of Africa; V. dorinen. 

 of Southern India : and V. parvulus, of Central America. 



nE.^D OF Ho.vuv B.\T. — After Dobson. 



The Hoary Bat and Red Bat. 



Genus Atalapha. 



Omitting all mention of two genera of bats (Chalinolohas and Nydicejas) 

 unknown in Europe, our next representatives of the family Vexperfilion idiv wiW be 

 two species of a genus known as Atahijihtt, which is confined to the New World. 

 All these bats have only a single pair of upper incisor teeth : the number of 

 iucisors in both jaws being i, and the cheek-teeth either § or ^, so that the total 



imuiber of teeth is 32 or 30. They ai'e also 

 characterised by the membrane between the 

 legs being more or less hairy ; and by the ex- 

 pansion and inward cur\-ature of the extremity 

 of the tragus of the ear. 



The largest of the more typical species of 

 this genus is the well-known hoary bat {A. 

 tincrea), ranging from Nova Scotia to Chili, 

 and charactensed by its ashy-grey colour. Dr. 

 Hart Merriam, writing of the habits of this 

 fine bat in the Adirondack Mountains near New York, observes that it " can be 

 recognised, even in the dusk of evening, b}^ its great size, its long and pointed wings, 

 and the swiftness and irregularity of its flight. It does not start out so early as 

 our other bats, and is consequently much more difficult to shoot. The borders of 

 woods, water-courses, and roadways through the forest, are among its favourite 

 resorts ; and its nightly range is vastly greater than that of any of its associates. 

 While the other species are extremely local, moving to and fro over a veiy 

 restricted area, this traverses a comparatively large extent of territorj^ in its 

 evening excursions, which fact is probably attributable to its superior powers of 

 flight." Of the migratory habits of this bat, which is rare in the Adirondack 

 region, we have already written. 



Far conunoner in the Adirondacks is the red or New York bat (A. novebora- 

 censis), which is of smaller size, and conspicuous for its bright golden fur, tipped 

 more or less markedly with silver. This species, which is second only in beauty 

 to the hoary bat, is widely distributer! in North America, and i-epresented by 

 several varieties in South America. According to the writer last quoted, it 

 generally makes its appearance earlier than the other species, and may even be 

 occasionally seen abroad on cloudy afternoons long before the shades of evening 



