LONG-LEGGED BAT. Myotis longicrus longicrus (True)

Field characters.—Size medium (noticeably larger than Little California, smaller than Large Brown Bat); total length 3-1/2—4 inches (90-102 mm.), lower leg (tibia) 3/4 inch (18 mm.), hind foot 1/3 inch (8 mm.), ear 2/5 inch (9-11 mm.). Coloration brown.

Occurrence.—In Transition Zone on west slope of Sierra Nevada, where recorded definitely at Dudley, 6 miles east of Coulterville. Also taken once at Walker Lake, on east slope. Forages chiefly about trees at 6 to 25 feet from ground, occasionally higher.

The Long-legged Bat is a species of medium size which is likely to be observed flitting across the spaces between trees in the yellow pine forest of the Transition Zone. Our own definite records of the species are confined to two localities; but further work between altitudes of 3000 and 5000 feet on the west slope of the Sierras would doubtless show it to be of general occurrence there.

At Dudley, 6 miles east of Coulterville, three specimens were taken on the evenings of July 13 and 16 and August 1, 1920, respectively, as they alighted on the vertical boards beneath the gable of a barn. It was found that the bats sought this perching place repeatedly in order to devour at leisure the insect prey which they had captured while in flight. This habit of perching to eat, though it is a well-known trait of the Pallid Bat, does not seem to have been recorded hitherto for the present species. Other individuals of the Long-legged Bat were taken during the daytime from their resting places on a pine tree. At Walker Lake a bat of this species was shot on the evening of September 11, 1915, at 6:52 P.M., from among several which were flying down the cañon high over the aspens and sage brush. These bats were probably going from their daytime resting places in the forest to some especially productive forage area farther down the valley.

A female Long-legged Bat taken at Dudley on July 16, 1920, gave evidence of having recently suckled young; and on August 1, a young individual, nearly full-grown, was taken there. This young animal was clothed in hair of somewhat softer texture and more grayish color than that of the adults.