larvae of aquatic insects. Mice caught in traps are sometimes eaten by
water shrews. Svihla (_loc. cit._) found a captive water shrew unable to
capture pollywogs and minnows kept in the same aquarium.
=Sorex bendirii= (Merriam)
Bendire water shrew
_Description._--The Bendire water shrew is similar in form of body to
the cinereous shrew but possesses a more stocky body which, with the
head, measures about 3-1/2 inches long; the tail is about 2-3/4 inches
long. The Bendire water shrew closely resembles also the mountain water
shrew but has a longer body and shorter tail. The upper parts are
blackish in color, not lightly frosted with gray hairs. The hind feet
lack the fringe of stiff, curved bristles characteristic of the mountain
water shrew. The underparts are black in the race _S. b. bendirii_. In
the race _albiventer_ the throat is blackish but the abdomen is pale
gray tinged with brownish.
[Illustration: FIG. 32. Distribution of the Bendire water shrew and
the pigmy shrew in Washington. A. _Sorex bendirii bendirii._
B. _Sorex bendirii albiventer._ C. _Microsorex hoyi washingtoni._]
Bendire water shrews are restricted to the Pacific Coast of North
America from southern British Columbia to northern California.
Generally they are found at elevations lower than are mountain water
shrews. They are typically mammals of the humid division of the
Transition Life-zone but often occur in the Canadian Life-zone. They
occupy marshes, swamps, damp ravines, and the banks of slow-moving
streams. Little is known of their habits, except what has been deduced
from the circumstances of their capture. They seem less aquatic than the
mountain water shrew. Near Jackson Guard Station on the Hoh River,
Jefferson County, one was taken by setting traps on dense beds of water
cress that floated in a slow-moving stream. The animal must have swum or
walked on the surface of the mat of vegetation. Near Paradise Lake, King
County, several were caught in a deep, dark, red cedar swamp. One was
caught in a marsh nearby. Nothing is known of the food habits of the
Bendire water shrew.
=Sorex bendirii bendirii= (Merriam)
_Atophyrax bendirii_ Merriam, Trans. Linn. Soc. New York, 2:217,
August 28, 1884.
_Atophyrax Bendirei_ True, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 7 (1884):606,
1885.
_Sorex bendirii_ Dobson, Monog. Insectivora, part 3, fasc. 1, pl.
23, 1890.
_Neosorex bendirii bendirii_ Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:22,
December 31, 1912.
_Type._--Obtained approximately 1 mile from Williamson River, 18
miles southeast of Fort Klamath, Klamath County, Oregon, by C. C.
Bendire on August 1, 1882; type in United States National Museum.
_Racial characters._--Underparts everywhere sooty black.
_Measurements._--Ten males and 10 females from southwestern
Washington average, respectively: total length 163.9, 161.0;
length of tail 71.0, 72.6; hind foot 20.5, 20.3; weight 16.8, 14.5
grams.
_Distribution._--The southern Cascades and the lowlands of western
Washington, exclusive of the Olympic Peninsula. Marginal
localities on the west include Mt. Vernon (Jackson, 1928: 196),
Bothell (W.S.M.), Renton (M.V.Z.), Puyallup (W.W.D.), Steilacoom
(Jackson, 1928: 196) and Oakville (Jackson, 1928: 196).
=Sorex bendirii albiventer= Merriam
_Sorex (Atophyrax) bendirii albiventer_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna,
10:97, December 31, 1895.
_Neosorex bendirii albiventer_ Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull.,
79:22, December 31, 1912.
_Sorex bendirii albiventer_ Jackson, N. Amer. Fauna, 51:198, July
24, 1928.
_Type._--Obtained at Lake Cushman, Mason County, Washington, by C.
P. Streator on July 7, 1894; type in United States National Museum.
_Racial characters._--Area on abdomen whitish.
_Measurements._--A male from near the type locality measures:
total length 167; length of tail 69; hind foot 22. One from
Potlatch, Mason County, measures 167; 69; 22.
_Distribution._--The Olympic Peninsula of Washington. Marginal
localities on the south are: Potlatch (M.V.Z.) and Lake Quinault
(Jackson, 1928: 199).
=Microsorex hoyi washingtoni= Jackson
Pigmy shrew
_Microsorex hoyi washingtoni_ Jackson, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
38:125, November 13, 1925.
_Type._--Obtained at Loon Lake, Stevens County, Washington, by V.
Bailey on September 26, 1897; type in United States National
Museum.
_Measurements._--Of type: total length 89; length of tail 27; hind
foot 9.
_Distribution._--In Washington, known only from the type specimen
which was "found dead in a trail in dry pine woods" (Jackson,
1928: 4).
_Description._--The pigmy shrew is similar in form of body to the
cinereous shrew but smaller. The head and body are about 1-3/4 inches in
length; the tail is about 1 inch long. The upper parts are reddish brown
and the underparts are gray.
These tiny mammals range widely across central Canada and northern
United States from the Atlantic nearly to the Pacific, and north to
central Alaska. A single species is known, one race of which occurs in
Washington. The subspecies is known from but two specimens: the type and
an individual from Montana (Koford, 1938: 372.)
Genus =Myotis= Kaup
Mouse-eared bats
_Description._--The genus _Myotis_ may be separated from all other bats
that occur in Washington by the presence of 38 teeth (dental formula i.
2-2/3-3, c. 1-1/1-1, p. 3-3/3-3, m. 3-3/3-3 = 38). Their small size
separates them from all other genera save _Pipistrellus_, from which
_Myotis_ may be distinguished by the straight, rather than hooked,
anterior border of the tragus. Species of _Myotis_ found in Washington
vary considerably in size, but all are less than 100 mm. in total
length. The upper parts are various shades of brown in color. The ears,
when laid forward, always extend to the nostrils or beyond.
This genus is one of the most widely ranging groups of Recent mammals.
It occurs on all continents, including Australia and many of the larger
islands. Of the 19 American species recognized by Miller and Allen
(1928), eight occur in the state of Washington. They are low-flying
forms and as a rule appear relatively late in the evening. Their flight
is rapid and erratic. They often hunt over the surfaces of streams,
pools, and lakes. Some kinds hunt in the shade of forest trees and these
are especially difficult to collect. Others hunt the brushy canyons and
coulees of the desert areas of eastern Washington.
Grinnell (1918: 241-242) points out that, although bats are not subject
to isolation by topographic barriers, as most wingless mammals are, they
may be restricted by ecologic barriers in the same way as are other
small mammals. This is particularly true of _Myotis_ in Washington. Of
the eight species in the state, five are represented by one subspecies
west of the Cascade Mountains and another, paler subspecies in the more
arid country east of the Cascades.
The mobility of bats makes it difficult to determine their origin and
migrational history. Five of the _Myotis_ found in Washington seem to
belong to the Pacific Coastal Fauna, and to have been isolated south of
the last continental glacier. Complete isolation is unlikely as these
species occur in the Cascade Mountains as well as in the Pacific Coastal
Faunal Area, and three occur also in the Blue Mountains of southeastern
Washington. The differentiation of the Coastal type of _Myotis_ may have
come about through habitat selection, of the type discussed by Miller
(1942: 25). One western Washington _Myotis_ (_M. keenii_) seems to
belong to a northern fauna, and to have extended its range south to
Washington. All seven species of the desert-living _Myotis_ found in
eastern Washington have subspecies which seem to have been derived from
the Great Basin Faunal Area.
=Myotis lucifugus= (Le Conte)
Big myotis
_Myotis lucifugus_ is represented by two geographic races in Washington.
The species ranges across Canada and the United States, from the
Atlantic to the Pacific and from the northern limit of tree growth to
southern Mexico.
[Illustration: FIG. 33. Distribution of the big myotis in Washington.
A. _Myotis lucifugus alascensis._ B. _Myotis lucifugus carissima._]
It usually proves rather difficult to separate _Myotis lucifugus_, on
the basis of external features, from other species with which it may
occur. Its large foot (9-10 mm.), short ear (when laid forward not
extending past nose) and the absence of a keel on the calcar separate it
from all species except _Myotis yumanensis_. From the latter species,
_lucifugus_ may be distinguished by the gradually rather than abruptly
rising forehead, as seen in cleaned skulls, and by more shiny, metallic
color of fur.
Little is known of the habits of this bat in Washington. It usually
appears after dusk, and most specimens are shot over ponds or lakes,
where the reflection of light from the sky on the water allows the
hunter enough light to sight a gun. A few specimens were collected in
deep forests. Its flight and feeding habits are not known to differ from
those of other species with which it was associated, except at the south
end of Lake Chelan, Chelan County, where two individuals were shot as
they hovered near the tops of pine trees and seemed to be picking
insects from the branches. I have never found this bat in its daytime
retreat.
A specimen taken at Sportman's Lake, San Juan County, held one embryo on
June 26, 1938.
=Myotis lucifugus carissima= Thomas
_Myotis (Leuconoë) carissima_ Thomas, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 13
(ser. 7): 383, May, 1904.
_Myotis lucifugus carissima_ Cary, N. Amer. Fauna, 42:43, October
3, 1917.
_Type._--Obtained at Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park,
Wyoming by J. Darling in September, 1903; type in British Museum.
_Racial characters._--Color pale, rather "brassy" in tone; distal
border of interfemoral membrane paler than proximal part.
_Measurements._--Four specimens from eastern Washington average:
total length 77; length of tail 33; hind foot 11; ear 13; height
of tragus 7.3.
_Distribution._--East of the eastern base of the Cascade
Mountains, save for the Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington.
Western records are Stehekin (Miller and Allen, 1928: 52) and
Vantage (W. W. D.)
=Myotis lucifugus alascensis= Miller
_Myotis lucifugus alascensis_ Miller, N. Amer. Fauna, 13:63,
October 16, 1897.
_Vespertilio gryphus lucifugus_ Allen, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull.,
43:78, March 14, 1894 (part specimens from Washington).
_Type._--Obtained at Sitka, Alaska, by C. P. Streator on August 5,
1895; type in United States National Museum.
_Racial characters._--Color dark, almost bronze; wing and tail
membranes uniformly dark in color.
_Measurements._--Five specimens from San Juan County, Washington,
average: total length 80.9; length of tail 32.1; hind foot 12; ear
12; height of tragus 7; weight 5.4 grams.
_Distribution._--From the eastern base of the Cascade Mountains
west of the Pacific, and the Blue Mountains of southeastern
Washington. Marginal occurrences listed by Miller and Allen
(1928:49) are Chilliwack River, Lake Wenatchee, and Lyle.
=Myotis yumanensis= (H. Allen)
Yuma myotis
_Description._--The present species closely resembles _Myotis lucifugus_
and specimens in worn pelage can not be distinguished from that species
unless the cleaned skulls are examined. In fresh pelage, _yumanensis_ is
duller than _lucifugus_.
_Myotis yumanensis_ ranges from southern British Columbia to central
Mexico west of the Mississippi River. Four races are recognized by
Miller and Allen (1928: 62).
[Illustration: FIG. 34. Distribution of the Yuma myotis in Washington.
A. _Myotis yumanensis saturatus._ B. _Myotis yumanensis sociabilis._]
The habits of _Myotis yumanensis_ and _Myotis lucifugus_ appear to be
the same. In Washington the two species are commonly found together. In
western Washington, _Myotis yumanensis_ seems to be more common than
_Myotis lucifugus_.
In the San Juan Islands a _yumanensis_ was found hiding in the attic of
an old cabin on Blakeley Island. A specimen of long-eared bat was taken
at the same place. Another Yuma myotis was caught behind a door of a
mill on Blakeley Island (Dalquest, 1940: 4).
This species shares with _Myotis californicus_ the habit of apparently
drinking salt water.
A specimen obtained at Sportsmans Lake, San Juan County, held one embryo
on June 27, 1938. One from Peavine Pass, Blakeley Island, San Juan
County, held one embryo on June 22, 1939.
=Myotis yumanensis sociabilis= H. W. Grinnell
_Myotis yumanensis sociabilis_ H. W. Grinnell, Univ. California
Publ. Zoöl., 12:318, December 4, 1914.
_Type._--Obtained at old Fort Tejon, Kern County, California, by J.
Grinnell on July 23, 1904; type in Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy.
_Racial character._--Color pale.
_Measurements._--Two males and 2 females from Selah, Yakima
County, average: total length 78; length of tail 36; hind foot 10;
ear 14; height of tragus 7.
_Distribution._--Eastern Washington generally. Marginal records on
the west are: Stehekin (Miller and Allen, 1928: 69), and Selah
(W.W.D.).
[Illustration: FIG. 35. Distribution of the fringe-tailed myotis and
the Keen myotis in Washington. A. _Myotis thysanodes thysanodes._
B. _Myotis keenii keenii._]
=Myotis yumanensis saturatus= Miller
_Myotis yumanensis saturatus_ Miller, N. Amer. Fauna, 13:68,
October 16, 1897.
_Type._--Obtained at Hamilton, Skagit County, Washington, by T. S.
Palmer on September 13, 1889; type in United States National
Museum.
_Racial character._--Color dark.
_Measurements._--Eighteen adults of both sexes from San Juan
County, Washington, average: Total length 78.2; length of tail
34.4; hind foot 10.1; ear 15; height of tragus 7.4; weight 5.9
grams.
_Distribution._--From the eastern base of the Cascade Mountains to
the Pacific. This is the commonest _Myotis_ found in western
Washington. Marginal localities are: Hamilton (Miller and Allen,
1928: 71), and Goldendale (Miller and Allen, 1928: 71).
=Myotis keenii keenii= (Merriam)
Keen myotis
_Vespertilio subulatus keenii_ Merriam, Amer. Nat., 29:860,
September, 1895.
_Myotis subulatus keenii_ Miller, N. Amer. Fauna, 13:77, October
16, 1897.
_Myotis keenii keenii_ Miller and Allen, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull.,
144:104, May 25, 1928.
_Type._--Obtained at Masset, Graham Island, Queen Charlotte
Islands, British Columbia, by J. H. Keen in 1894; type in United
States National Museum.
_Measurements._--Miller and Allen (1928: 109) list the
measurements of a male from Sol Duc Hot Springs, Clallam County,
and a specimen of unknown sex from Lake Cushman, Jefferson County,
as, respectively: total length 89, 87; length of tail 34, 36; hind
foot 8.4, 7.4; ear?, 14.6.
_Distribution._--Only the Olympic Peninsula, where it has been
recorded by Miller and Allen (1928: 104) from Sol Duc Hot Springs
and Lake Cushman.
_Description._--_Myotis keenii_ is similar, in general, to _Myotis
lucifugus_ and _Myotis yumanensis_, but the ears are longer and when
laid forward reach about 4 mm. past the nose rather than ending at the
nostrils. The foot is of medium size (about 8 mm.) and no keel is
present on the calcar.
The distribution of this species is given by Miller and Allen (1928:
101) as "northern North America from the limits of tree growth south in
the east to South Carolina and Arkansas, and in the west to northwestern
Washington."
I have not observed this bat in Washington and know nothing of its
habits. Its distribution is most unusual. Its range seems to lie only in
the glaciated area of western British Columbia and northern Washington.
=Myotis evotis= (H. Allen)
Long-eared myotis
_Description._--The distinguishing feature of _Myotis evotis_ is its
long ears, which, when laid forward, reach 5 mm. in front of the nose.
_Myotis thysanodes_ and _Myotis keenii_, other species in which the ears
are rather long, have the ears ending less than 5 mm. anterior to the
nose when laid forward. The foot of _Myotis evotis_ is of moderate size
(8 to 9 mm.).
This species ranges over the western United States, from British
Columbia to central Mexico. Two subspecies of this interesting bat are
recognized, both of which occur in Washington.
Though I have hunted for this species of bat in Washington on numerous
occasions, I have taken no specimens. In the summer of 1939, _Myotis_
identified as this species because of their large ears, were seen
flying at midnight in the light of searchlights over Lake Washington
Canal at Seattle. Mary Greer gave us a specimen which was struck by
her auto near Baker Lake, Whatcom County. According to Miss Greer,
the specimen was seen "hovering in the road, like a large moth." The
time was about midnight. This evidence indicates that the species does
its hunting late at night, when ordinary methods of hunting bats are
useless, and may account for the scarcity of specimens from the state.
Nevertheless, collectors from the California Museum of Vertebrate
Zoölogy took specimens in the Blue Mountains where the bats flew
slowly, in rather straight courses, 20 to 25 feet from the ground.
[Illustration: FIG. 36. Distribution of the long-eared myotis in
Washington. A. _Myotis evotis evotis._ B. _Myotis evotis pacificus._]
This species has not, so far as is known, been taken in Washington in
its daytime retreat. Daniel Bonell saved two specimens from under slabs
of loose bark on old, dead snags near Tillamook, Oregon. Davis (1939:
214) reported them as hiding in the daytime in a cave in Craters of
the Moon National Monument, Idaho. Whitlow and Hall (1933: 241) report
specimens found in an old cabin near Pocatello, Idaho, two of them
containing one embryo each.
=Myotis evotis evotis= (H. Allen)
_Vespertilio evotis_ Allen, Smithsonian Misc. Coll., 7 (no.
165):48, June, 1864.
_Myotis evotis_ Miller, N. Amer. Fauna, 13:77, October 16, 1897.
_Myotis evotis evotis_ Miller and Allen, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull.,
144:114, April 14, 1928.
_Type._--Description based on a series of specimens, one of which
came from Monterey, California. This locality was designated the
type locality by Miller (1897: 78).
_Racial character._--Color pale.
_Measurements._--Two males and 2 specimens of unknown sex from the
Blue Mountains, Columbia County, average: total length 87; length
of tail 40; hind foot 7.5; ear 20; height of tragus 11; weight 5.4
grams.
_Distribution._--The Blue Mountains area, of southeastern
Washington; recorded from South Touchet (Miller and Allen, 1928:
116) and Godman Springs (W. S. M.).
_Remarks._--Miller and Allen (1928: 116) record the dark race of _Myotis
evotis_ from the Blue Mountains. Specimens examined by me are much paler
than _pacificus_ and most of them are indistinguishable from specimens
of _evotis_ from California.
=Myotis evotis pacificus= Dalquest
_Vespertilio evotis_ Allen, Smithsonian Misc. Coll., 7 (no.
165):48, June, 1864 (part specimens from Puget Sound).
_Myotis evotis evotis_ Miller and Allen, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull.,
144:114, May 25, 1928.
_Myotis evotis pacificus_ Dalquest, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
56:2, February 25, 1943.
_Type._--Obtained from 3-1/2 miles east and 5 miles north of
Yacolt, Clark County, Washington, by John Chattin on August 3,
1940; type in Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy.
_Racial character._--Color dark.
_Measurements._--Five specimens from the type locality average:
Total length 85; length of tail 41; hind foot 7.4; ear 19.4;
height of tragus 10; weight 5.5 grams.
_Distribution._--Western Washington from the Cascade Mountains
westward. Marginal occurrences are: Baker Lake (W. W. D.) and
Easton (Miller and Allen, 1928: 116).
=Myotis thysanodes thysanodes= Miller
Fringe-tailed myotis
_Myotis thysanodes_ Miller, N. Amer. Fauna, 13:80, October 16,
1897.
_Myotis thysanodes thysanodes_ Miller and Allen, U. S. Nat. Mus.
Bull., 144:126, May 25, 1928.
_Type._--Obtained at Old Fort Tejon, Kern County, California, by T.
S. Palmer on July 5, 1891; type in United States National Museum.
_Measurements._--Two males and 3 females from Vernon, British
Columbia, average, respectively: total length 90.5, 82; length of
tail 41.5, 37; hind foot 10.5, 10; ear 18.5, 16; height of tragus
14, 13.
_Distribution._--In Washington known only from the southeastern
border of the state, namely from Dayton (W. S. M.) and Anatone
(Miller and Allen, 1928: 127).
_Description._--_Myotis thysanodes_ resembles _Myotis evotis_, but
differs in larger size, smaller ear (reaching less than 5 mm. past nose
when laid forward), and in possessing a well developed fringe of hairs
along the border of the caudal membrane.
This species of bat ranges over western North America from southern
British Columbia to southern Mexico. Two geographic races are currently
recognized, only one of which occurs in the United States. This bat is
not recorded by Davis (1939) as occurring in Idaho and has been found
only once in Oregon. The only published account of the habits of
_thysanodes_ seems to be that of Palmer (in Miller, 1897: 84, also
Grinnell, 1918) who found adults and young of various sizes in company
with _Myotis yumanensis_ in the attic of an old adobe building near Old
Fort Tejon, California, in July, 1891. The specimens obtained in
Washington and British Columbia came from dry areas of pine forest.
=Myotis volans= (H. Allen)
Hairy-winged myotis
_Description._--This species, in Washington, may be easily recognized by
its relatively large size and the presence of a distinct keel on the
side of the calcar, posterior to the foot.
Four subspecies of _Myotis volans_ are recognized by Miller and Allen
(1928: 136). These range over western North America from southern Alaska
to southern Mexico. Two subspecies occur in Washington.
The record stations in Washington for the pale, southern race are all in
arid places and the dark, coastal race is a forest animal. Most of the
specimens taken by me (all of the dark race) were in clearings or along
roads through timber near the crests of hills. They appeared relatively
late in the evening, after the big-brown and the silver-haired bats had
been in the air for some time. Often they were taken in company with
_Myotis lucifugus_ and _Myotis yumanensis_. They were appreciably larger
than those species and their flight was slower and less erratic. They
usually flew in relatively straight lines or large circles at from ten
to forty feet from the ground. At Lake Kapowsin, Pierce County, they
were attracted by swishing a long pole in the air. At Renton, King
County, one was shot as it hunted insects at a city street light several
hours after dark.
=Myotis volans longicrus= (True)
_Vespertilio longicrus_ True, Science, 8:588, 1886.
_Vespertilio nitidus longicrus_ H. Allen, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull.,
43:103, March 14, 1894.
_Myotis lucifugus longicrus_ Miller, N. Amer. Fauna, 13:64,
October 16, 1897.
_Myotis longicrus_ Lyon and Osgood, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 62:271,
January 28, 1909.
_Myotis volans longicrus_ Miller and Allen, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull.,
144:140, May 25, 1928.
_Type._--Obtained in the "vicinity of Puget Sound, Washington" by
D. S. Jordan, and catalogued in the U. S. National Museum on
December 16, 1886.
_Racial character._--Color dark.
_Measurements._--A female from 6 miles northeast of Kelso, Cowlitz
County, measures: total length 95; length of tail 39; hind foot 8;
ear 13; height of tragus 8.
_Distribution._--From the eastern base of the Cascade Mountains to
the Pacific. Marginal records (from Miller and Allen, 1928: 142)
are Oroville, Entiat, and Carson.
[Illustration: FIG. 37. Distribution of the hairy-winged myotis in
Washington. A. _Myotis volans longicrus._ B. _Myotis volans interior._]
=Myotis volans interior= Miller
_Myotis longicrus_ interior Miller, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,
27:211, October 31, 1914.
_Myotis volans interior_ Miller and Allen, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull.,
144:142, May 25, 1928.