46 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 66 



The skull of an adult from Oakland, Garrett County, measures: 

 Greatest length 13.7; zygomatic breadth 8.1; interorbital breadth 

 3.7 ; length of maxillary toothrow 5.0. 



Habitat and habits. — This bat roosts almost exclusively in lime- 

 stone caves, preferring those in which there are considerable bodies 

 of water. It forms large colonies and is often found in association 

 with M. lucifugus. It is known from only 2 localities in Maryland. 



Hall (1962) has thoroughly studied the life histoiy of this bat. He 

 found that at Blackball Mine, La Salle County, 111., the earliest date 

 for entrance into hibernation was 14 September. The major buildup 

 of the hibernating colony was during October and the first part of 

 November. The hibernating colony starts diminishing in early April, 

 and by the first week of June no sodalis are in hibernation. He esti- 

 mates that the average hibernation period for this species would be 

 from 15 October to 20 April, or 187 days. He found that large num- 

 bers of Indiana myotis accumulate in a few caves to hibernate, and 

 that for five consecutive winters the species was found in the same 

 seven caves and in no others in Edmondson County, Kentucky. This 

 species also occupies caves during the nonhibernating summer months, 

 and may be considered a true cave species. 



As far as movements and migrations are concerned. Hall says that 

 the same individual may be present in one area winter and summer 

 whereas others may move as much as 250 miles between seasons. He 

 says that the few band recoveries indicate that certain movement 

 areas exist for certain populations. For instance, he found that one 

 such population range includes Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and south- 

 ern Ohio, and that no movement takes place between this area and 

 the Ozark area of Arkansas and Missouri. 



Little is known regarding the feeding and breeding habits of M. 

 sodalis^ but probably they are quite similar to those of M. lucifugus. 

 Like that species, M. sodalis is long-lived. One specimen banded in 

 Carter County, Ky., on 12 March 1950, was recovered in good health 

 14 years later on 8 January 1964, in the same cave. 



Specimens examined. — Garrett County: Near Oakland, 1. 



Other records and reports. — Washington County: Round Top 

 Mountain, near Hancock (bat banding record, U.S. Fish and Wild- 

 life Service) . 



Remarks. — The skull of the Maryland specimen is small in all 

 measures, but otherwise appears to be typical M. sodalis. It has the 

 slight but perfectly defined sagittal crest which is generally present 

 in this species and lacking in M. lucifugus. Unfortunately, the skin is 

 missing from the National Museum collections. 



