60 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 66 



Distribution in Maryland. — 'Not as yet recorded, but should be looked 

 for in the higher portions of the Allegheny Mountain section. To date 

 it has not been found resident in any Maryland caves, but it probably 

 enters the State on feeding forays from caves in nearby West Virginia 

 and Virginia. 



Distinguishing characteristics. — Teeth 2/3, 1/1, 2/3, 3/3, = 36, ears 

 very long; glandular masses on nose appear as lumps; fur long and 

 limp; colored a dark brown above, and pinkish buff on belly, inter- 

 femoral membrane naked. 



The very large ears serve to distinguish this bat from any others 

 that may be encountered within Maryland. 



Measurements. — Handley (1959, p. 233) gives some measurements 

 of a series of adults from West Virginia as follows : Total length 101 

 (98-103) ; tail vertebrae 50 (48-52) ; hind foot 11 (10-12) ; ear from 

 notch 34 (31-38) ; greatest length of skull 16.5 (16.2-16.8) ; zygomatic 

 breadth 8.8 (8.6-9.0) ; interorbital breadth 3.7 (3.6-3.9) ; length of 

 maxillary toothrow 5.3 (5.2-5.4) . 



Habitat and habits. — ^This is a true cave bat usually roosting in small 

 groups and emerging at dusk to fly at considerable heights. After dusk 

 it descends nearer the ground, sometimes at an elevation of only sev- 

 eral feet, searching for insect prey. When roosting in the caves during 

 the day, the long ears are spirally coiled and flattened against the neck. 

 It is a shy bat, quick to take alarm. With its large ears, it can detect 

 the least sound and seems to be more wary than other species. 



Although Pearson et al. (1952) have made a detailed study of the 

 life history of the western subspecies of Plecotus townsendi% little is 

 known concerning the habits of the eastern race. Since the two are 

 widely separated geographically, much of Pearson's findings may not 

 be applicable to the eastern form. Hamilton (1943, pp. 102-103) says 

 that the eastern race bears its young during late June and that the 

 mother carries the single offspring until it becomes too heavy. As with 

 other vespertilionid bats, the spermatozoa are probably stored over 

 winter in the uteri of the females and are capable of fertilizing in the 

 spring. 



This species is insectivorous, and Hamilton (1943, p. 104) says that 

 those examined for a clue to their feeding habits contained only the 

 remains of Lepidoptera in their stomachs. H 



Remarks. — This bat has never been taken within Maryland, but has 

 been found in several caves very close to the border of the western part 

 of the State, in Grant, Preston, and Tucker Counties, W. Va. || 



During the Pleistocene, a bat very similar to this species did inhabit 

 Maryland caves. Gidley and Gazin (1933, p. 345) described Gorynor- 

 hynus alleganiensis {= Plecotus alleganiensis) from Pleistocene de- 

 posits in Cumberland Cave, Allegany County, Md. Handley (1959, p. g 



