BATS OF THE UNITED STATES 
65 
In midsummer, sharp eyes sometimes find 
this bat hanging close in amongst the leaves of 
a chestnut tree, its delicate fur as red as the 
brightest iron-rust. Touch it ever so gently 
and whisk! it is off as swiftly as a swallow, to 
seek another and a better hiding-place. 
From sunset until it grows quite dark, it is 
very busy, and constantly on the wing. The 
r 
THE RED BAT. 
Red Bat is a swift flyer, and much more of an 
aerial gymnast than any bird I know. In its 
flight it can turn abruptly with marvellous pre- 
cision, and to me it is a constant source of won- 
der that it can fly so rapidly, turn and double 
so quickly, and dart in all possible; directions 
without striking something. Almost any bird 
attempting to fly over the course of a Red Bat, 
and at the same speed, would probably come 
to grief in a very short time. 
The only mistake that Red Bats are prone 
to make is in flying into houses through open 
windows, and instantly forgetting the location of 
the means of escape. Once in a room, the bat 
flies slowly, and frequently is so bewildered by 
the sudden change from semi-darkness to light 
that it strikes a wall, and falls to the floor. Al- 
though many persons are nervous about bats, I 
have noticed that whenever one flies in, some 
kind-hearted and sensible person generally cries 
out, “Don’t kill it!” 
While crossing the Atlantic quite recently, 
a British Long-Eared Bat was found on board 
the steamer, thirty miles from the nearest land, 
clinging to the rail, wet and weary. At that 
time there was no breeze from the land. 
When taken into the library, its wet fur soon 
dried, and it began to fly to and fro. In a short 
time the room was well filled with passengers, 
who watched the exhibition with great interest. 
When caught and held for close examination, 
it did not squeak shrilly and protest as the red 
bat usually does. After having served as a 
useful object lesson for a large number of young 
people, our strange visitor was brought safely to 
New York harbor, and liberated. 
The Gray Bat 1 is one of the largest and 
handsomest species inhabiting the northeastern 
United States and Canada. It is also found 
throughout the middle West from Ohio to Cali- 
fornia, and from Manitoba to New Mexico. This 
is a species well worth looking for. It has small 
ears, a head-and-body length of 3 inches, tail 2 
inches, and it is readily distinguished by its dark 
brown hair tipped with silvery white. 
The Big-Eared Bat a of the south Atlantic 
states has ears of incredible height and width 
for a creature so small. In comparison with 
the size of the wearer, these ears are the largest 
worn by any American mammal. They are 
one-half as long as the entire head and body, 
being 1 J inches in height and nearly 1 inch 
wide, while the head and body measure only 
2^ inches. 
THE FAMILY OF FALSE VAMPIRES. 
M egadermatidae. 
This Family is absent from America, but is 
mentioned here to fill what otherwise would be 
a gap. The members of one genus, Megaderina, 
are noted for their carnivorous habits. The 
most noteworthy species is well worthy of men- 
tion. 
The “False” Vampire Bat, of India and 
beyond, bears a name which is quite mislead- 
ing; for in its habits, this creature is far from 
being a “false” Vampire. It devours frogs, 
small fishes, bats smaller than itself, and even 
1 At-a-la' pha cin'e-re-a. 
2 Co-ry-norhi'nus ma-cro'tis. 
