GILPIN ON THE MAMMALS OF NOVA SCOTIA. 9 



one species. I think the tail swells during the sexual period, and 

 when the animal is fat, at other times diminishes. 



Genus, Lasiurus. 



Having neglected to describe the Bats, in their usual place, be- 

 fore the Soricinee, I place them here. I have identified but two 

 species myself, but I have little doubt that several more species 

 inhabit the Province. 



Lasiurus, cinereus, (Hoary Bat.) — I have seen but two speci- 

 mens of this bat taken here. One from Sambro, the other taken 

 from the foretopsail of a brigantine in Halifax harbour, and there- 

 fore I consider it rare. These specimens answered in every 

 respect V. prumosus of Richardson, DeKay and Say. This latter 

 naturalist, supposing himself the discoverer of it, gave it the speci- 

 fic " pruinosus,^^ — but Dr. Allen in his monograph of North 

 American bats, quotes a catalogue of Peale's Museum, 1796, by M. 

 Palisot de Beauvois, who describes it under the name cinereus. 



Vespertilio subulatus. — Two specimens measured — total length, 

 Sins. ; total spread, 9ins. ; they both agreed with DeKay's descrip- 

 tion of northern specimens, their colour being darker and ears longer 

 than those of New York. Dark about head ; dark brown olive on 

 back; yellow mixed white beneath; yellow dow^i extending a 

 little way under rib of each wing; the ears not so hairy as DeKay's, 

 They are very common. 



Genus, Lynx. 



Lynx, Canadensis, (Loitpcervier.) — A very handsome but not 

 large skin in Avinter pelage, from Mr. Coleman's, Halifax, measured 

 — length to tip of tail, 3ft. 2in.; length of tail, o^ins.; of pencil to 

 ears, l^ins. Colour, dusky brindle on the back, an indistinct but 

 decided dark line down the centre of the back, end of tail deep 

 black, sides and belly yellowish rusty, inside of legs yellowish 

 white, no spots, but three indistinct dusky bars inside fore leg, 

 black tips and pencils to the ears, and a large collar yellowish 

 white alternating with black stripes beneath the throat — a general 

 hoary tint over all. The fur was very long and loose. The legs 

 and feet very robust and well furred, ^vith thick yellowish white 

 fur, and the pads covered. This true boreal species, reminding us 

 of the alpine hare, the ptarmigan, the spruce grouse, and the 

 2 



