432 CHAPTERS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY 



Through the efforts of Peters, Dobson, Flower, Harrison Allen, 

 and others the classification of the order is now upon a very good 

 basis, and new forms from various parts of the world are con- 

 stantly being added to it. Our small, insectivorous, and for the 

 most part either nocturnal or crepuscular bats, in habit, all seem 

 to fall within the suborder Microchiroptera, being confined to the 

 families Vespertilionidd , Emballonuridw, while the Leaf-nosed 

 bats (Phyllostomidce) are found only beyond the southern border 

 of the United States. 



Of the first two mentioned families the writer has studied in 

 nature and in the Museums not a few species belonging to them, 

 and especially such forms as our little Ked bat (Atalaphaborealis) ; 

 the Serotine bat ( Adelonycterls fuscus) ; the Pale bat (V. evotis) ; 

 the Hoary bat (A. cinctra) ; and a number of others. Many years 

 ago I collected in New Orleans a remarkable species (Xi/cthio- 

 mus sp ?) that had a long tail like a mouse, and not included in 

 any interfemoral membrane. It was very active on the ground, 

 where its locomotory powers were good, thus forming an excep- 

 tion to the general rule. The Hoary bat has also been shot by 

 me, when hunting its insect food during the brightest hours of 

 noonday, and in the full rays of the sun. As a rule, however, 

 all of our bats hide away during the daytime either in hollow 

 trees, caves, fissures in rocks, or frequently in deserted buildings, 

 or concealed open cavities in tenanted houses or public edifices; 

 and in such structures as wooden bridges and elsewhere. Some- 

 times the number found in such places is enormous. The little 

 Red bat, however, and other species seem to be satisfied to han<i 

 by its hinder feet, head downward, from the twigs of trees and 

 shrubs, in which situations I have frequently taken it. When in 

 large hosts and their hiding place somewiiat confined, they will 

 give vent to a variety of noises, hisses, and cheiropterine grunts 

 when disturbed, and so great is the agitation sometimes that the 

 temperature of the cavity will be elevated several degrees, a 

 fact proved by the use of the thermometer. From these hiding- 

 places they swarm out as evening comes on, and immediately pro- 

 ceed to hunt the insects upon which they subsist. Enormous 

 numbers of highly noxious pests to man are thus nightly de- 

 stroyed, in which pursuit the bats are a great benefit to us. Bats 

 as a rule, breed during the hottest part of the year, and usually 

 have two young at a birth. I have shot the female Red bat with 

 a helpless, nearly hairless, young one at each breast, vigorously 



