In the first comprehensive account of Nebraskan mammals, Myron H. Swenk (1908:137-139) listed six kinds of bats, Myotis evotis, Myotis californicus ciliolabrum [= Myotis subulatus subulatus], Lasionycteris noctivagans, Eptesicus fuscus, Lasiurus borealis, and Lasiurus cinereus, as occurring within the state. Zimmer (1913:665) recorded Nyctinomus mexicanus [= Tadarida mexicana] from Nebraska. Subsequently, Swenk (1915:854) reported Myotis lucifugus lucifugus in the state and three years later (1918:411) he reported Eptesicus fuscus pallidus for the first time. The report of M. l. lucifugus seemingly was not substantiated by any actual specimens. The addition of Myotis volans interior (Quay, 1948:181) brought to ten the number of species and subspecies of bats reported from the state.
In the present paper, Myotis keenii septentrionalis, Myotis lucifugus carissima, and Pipistrellus subflavus subflavus are reported from Nebraska for the first time. Also, the first authentic record of Myotis lucifugus lucifugus is presented, along with additional information on previously reported species. A total number of 169 specimens from Nebraska was available for the present study. This includes almost all of the known specimens preserved in all collections as well as material obtained by us in the past six years.
Nebraska has no natural caves or caverns; however, there are two extensive man-made limestone caves near Louisville, in Cass and Sarpy counties, where four kinds of bats have been found. Two of these are here reported as new to Nebraska. The quarries, one on either side of the Platte River Valley, are in a horizontal stratum of limestone 40 feet in thickness, and are of the room and pillar type; that is to say, the stone has been quarried away leaving rooms having supporting pillars approximately every 50 feet. The average temperatures in summer and winter within these tunnels, recorded over a period of several years by the Ash Grove Lime and Portland Cement Company of Louisville, are 65° F. and 50° F. respectively. The Kiewit Stone Quarry, abandoned since 1936, is one-half mile west of Meadow, Sarpy County, and has one remaining entrance measuring approximately 30 by 30 feet. This quarry has an area of approximately one-fifth square mile and is usually flooded with several feet of water. The other man-made cave, known formerly as the National Stone Quarry, is one mile northeast of Louisville, Cass County. This quarry was abandoned in September, 1938, and until the winter of 1948-1949 had eight or nine entrances and two air shafts. It was approximately one-third square mile in area. All the openings to this quarry were covered in late 1949. Bats were first observed in the National Stone Quarry by one of us (Webb) as early as 1939, less than a year after operations in the quarry ceased.
METHODS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Records of Nebraskan bats are arranged in two categories; specimens examined and additional records. The latter refer to citations in the literature. Genera are arranged according to Simpson (1945:59, 60), and species are listed alphabetically under each genus. Specimens examined are in the personal collection of the authors unless otherwise indicated.
In connection with this study the authors acknowledge the assistance of Drs. Edson H. Fichter, Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State College, and E. Raymond Hall and Rollin H. Baker, University of Kansas Museum of Natural History for critical assistance with the manuscript. We are indebted to Mr. Richard B. Loomis, University of Kansas, for aid in collecting specimens; to Dr. Henry W. Setzer, United States National Museum, for providing information on possible early Nebraskan records; and to Mr. Fred Brammer, Ash Grove Lime and Portland Cement Company, Louisville, Nebraska, for information on, and permission to collect in, the quarries of that area. For the loan of specimens we are grateful to Dr. William H. Burt, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, Dr. C. Bertrand Schultz, University of Nebraska State Museum, Dr. Otis Wade, University of Nebraska Department of Zoology, Miss Lucille Drury, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Mr. W. E. Eigsti, Hastings Museum, Hastings, Nebraska, and to those in charge of the collections of the Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission.
ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES
Myotis evotis evotis (H. Allen)
Long-eared Myotis
Vespertilio evotis H. Allen, Smithsonian Misc. Coll., 165:48, June, 1864 (part), type from Monterey, Monterey Co., California.
Myotis evotis, Miller, N. Amer. Fauna, 13:78, October 16, 1897.