56 Five Species of Vespertilio. 



both as to the kind and number of the teeth, and form togethei 

 a small natural group, the Nycticeim of Rafinesque, which 

 however I have not thought it expedient to adopt as a genus, 

 as they differ so little in habit and external characters from our 

 other Vespertiliones. The external resemblance between these 

 two species is also very great, so that they might be confound- 

 ed without a close inspection of the markings. But the Hoary 

 Bat is much larger ; besides, as Say observes, many minor 

 differences, of which the most conspicuous are the black lips 

 and chin, and buff-colored cravat of this species. The hairy 

 patch near the elbow joint I have not found in any instance in 

 the New- York Bat, and in all the varieties of this latter there 

 is an obvious reddish tinge, approaching sometimes to lake, on 

 the under parts (as well as upper) of which there is no appear- 

 ance whatever in the large species. The white mark at the 

 insertion of the wings is found in both. 



Though first described by Mr. Say from a specimen obtained 

 beyond the Mississippi, there is now reason to believe that this 

 fine species is common in the Atlantic States. Previously 

 to the expedition of Major Long it had been captured in Phi- 

 ladelphia, and a specimen from Georgia has been communicated 

 to me by Major Le Conte, and another by Dr. Bachman 

 from Charleston, South Carolina. That from which the above 

 description is chiefly drawn up, was shot by Mr. J. F. Ward, 

 in the month of November, near the heights of Weehawken, 

 in New Jersey, near this city, in broad daylight. It was hov- 

 ering and fluttering about the precipice in the manner of other 

 Bats, and occasionally darting towards the low grounds, more 

 like a bird. I have witnessed at the same locality the similar 

 evolutions of a Bat, probably of this species, that was flying 

 about early one fine afternoon, though it kept below the shadow 

 of the rocks. It is not improbable that it migrates hither 

 from the north, Dr. Richardson having met w%h it in lat. 54°. 



