87 



finger ; a conspicuous white tuft at tlie shoulder, and another at the base 

 of the thumb. Femoral membrane above densely furry, like the back ; 

 under surface one-half furred. Fur long and silky; each hair plumbeous 

 at base, then yellowish-brown, passing to reddish or chocolate, and usually 

 white at the tip. Males bright yellowish-red; females have the light 

 red replaced by dark russet, with the whitish tips longer than in the 

 males. 



Regarding the abundance, movements, and general appearance of the 

 Bats in general, and particularly of our two most abundant species, I 

 transcribe the following, evidently from the pen of Dr. Coues, in Chapter 

 II, Volume V, of the Explorations and Surveys West of the One Hun- 

 dreth Meridian : 



" In most portions of the United States the Red Bat is one of the most abundant, 

 characteristic, and familiar species, being rivaled in these respects by the Little Brown 

 Bat alone. It would be safe to say that in any given instance of a Bat entering our 

 rooms in the evening, the chances are a hundred to one of its being either one or the 

 other of these two species. The perfect noiselessness and swiftness of its flight, the ex- 

 traordinary agility with which it evades obstacles, and the unwonted shape, associated 

 in popular superstition with the demons of the shades, conspire to revulsive feelings 

 that need little fancy to render weird and uncanny. But the Bat is no ghost; on the 

 contrary, a substantial, compact little creature of flesh and blood, much like a Mouse 

 with wings, completely animal to the tips of its ears and tail ; an erratic, yet busy little 

 hunter for insects out on the fly after bugs attracted to our apartments, not by the light 

 as some suppose, but simply in pursuit of its prey, which is attracted by the light. 

 When captured, which may not be until far on in a breathless attack with brooms, tongs, 

 and hats, during which the farniture is upset and the lamp, perhaps, put out, the little 

 animal will be found a reddish, furry, flat creature, with membranes of exquisite deli- 

 cacy, folded on each side like half of a tiny umbrella, of which the tremendous long 

 fingers are the stick ; h'lmpy about the shoulders, sloping down to a furry expanse be- 

 hind, with a piggish little head, twisting all ways at once, on a stumpy neck; mouse- 

 like ears, standing straight up ; funny, little, snapping, black specks of eyes ; and an 

 open countenance indeed — for the mouth is deep, bristling with fine, needle-like teeth, 

 while from the throat comes a sharp, squeaky barking of anger, and perhaps defiance, if 

 we can suppose such a pigmy to have so great a soul. Such is the simple creature that 

 excites emotioual persons to fancies not wholly lacking an element of terror ; and the 

 utmost damage it could do the clumsy giants, its captors, would be a prick from its tiny 

 teeth — pretty sure to be given to an incautious finger tip. 



"An anecdote, illustrating a tender trait of this animal, has been related by Mr. Titian 

 Peale. A person had cauglit and taken home a young Red Bat. ' Three hours after- 

 ward, in the evening, as he was conveying it to the museum, in his hand, while passing 

 near the place where it T^as caught, the mother made her appearance and followed the 

 boy for two squares, flying around him, and finally alighted on his breast, such was her 

 anxiety to save her offspring. This faithful creature lived two days in the museum, and 

 then died of injuries received from her captor. The young one, being but half grown, 

 was still too young to take care of itself, and died shortly after,' " 



