250 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



the Athabaska between Athabaska Landing and Grand Eapid early 

 in May, it was the only bat seen during that season. 



During the evening of May 29, 1903, while we were floating down 

 the Athabaska near the site of Pierre au Calumetj we saw a number 

 of small bats, probably of this species, flying about over the river. 

 During their outward trip in the autumn of the same year, my 

 brother and Gary saw two, one of which was secured, at La Biche 

 Eiver, Augus.t 29. It proves to be of this species. 



Hubert Darrell, Avho accompanied Hanbury through the Barren 

 Grounds in 1901-2, writes me that he saw small dark-brown bats at 

 the Big Fall on Hanbury River in the summer of 1901. In the 

 following summer he saw one among some cliffs on the Arctic coast 

 50 miles east of the mouth of the Coppermine. Since M. lucifugus 

 appears to be the most northern-ranging bat, it is probable, though 

 by no means certain, that they were of this species. In sjDite of 

 uncertainty as to the species, the occurrence of bats at these points 

 on the Barren Grounds seems worthy of record. 



At least one species is said to be occasionally seen at Fort Simpson, 

 but though constantly on the lookout for bats during the spring of 

 1904, I failed to observe any. I saw a small brown bat at Grand 

 Rapid, Athabaska River, August 22^ but was unable to secure it. 



Myotis subulatus (Say). Say Bat. 



Richardson records a specimen of Vespertilio subulatus procured on 

 Back's expedition. The locality is not stated definitely, but the con- 

 text leaves it to be inferred that the specimen was taken at Great 

 Slave Lake.* Ross notes this species as being found north to Salt 

 River, but as very rare.^ In vicAv of the imperfect knowledge in 

 former j^ears regarding the species of bats, these records are quite 

 as likely to refer to J/, lucifugus, which is probably the commoner 

 species in this region, though it is highly probable that 31. subulatus 

 also occurs well northward. Miller records one taken near Red Deer, 

 Alberta.^ 



Lasionycteris noctivagans (Le Conte). Silver-haired Bat. 



As we were ascending the Athabaska near the mouth of House 

 River, August 24, 1904, a bat of this species was seen flying about 

 near the boats. It was bright sunlight at the time. The crew began 

 to throw stones at it, whereupon it took refuge on the awning of 

 one of the boats and was secured. It proved to be a male. Another, 

 a female, was secured 60 miles below Athabaska Landing on Au- 

 gust 29. 



^ Back's Narrative Expedition to Great Fish River, Appendix, p. 485, 1836. 

 » Can. Nat. and Geol., YII, p. 142, 1862. 

 ^ N. A. Fanna, No. 13, p. 76, 1897. 



