Everyone can identify Bats. Their fingers are extended and joined with a leathery membrane. Their ears are large to aid in catching the echo of their voice as it is reflected from obstacles. They are most frequently seen at twilight when they flitter over the dunes in quest of the many insects abounding there. Bats have tremendous value because they eat such insect pests as mosquitoes and flies. We have five major kinds of Bats. They are not easily identified in flight. [Illustration: Little Brown Bat] Little Brown Bat (_Myotis_, several species) Less than 4″ long Common [Illustration: Big Brown Bat] Big Brown Bat (_Eptesicus fuscus_) More than 4″ long Reddish-brown fur Common [Illustration: Pipistrelles] Pipistrelles (_Pipistrellus subflavus_) The “Pigmy Bat,” under 3″ long Rare [Illustration: Silver-haired Bat] Silver-haired Bat (_Lasionycteris noctivagans_) About 3½″ long Gray or silvery hair on back Rare [Illustration: Red Bat] Red Bat (_Lasiurus borealis_) About 3½″ long Rusty-red fur with whitish tips and [Illustration: Hoary Bat] Hoary Bat (_L. cinereus_) About 4½″ long Yellowish-brown fur tipped with white LONG-EARED JUMPERS: RABBITS [Illustration: New England Cottontail] New England Cottontail (_Sylvilagus transitionalis_) Large hind jumping legs More than 1′ long While the New England Cottontail is named for our area, it does extend its range southward to mid-Alabama. It may be separated from other species of Cottontails by a narrow black spot between the ears. It is very common on the Neck. These rabbits stay hidden most of the day, venturing forth at night or early in the morning. Because their diet is exclusively vegetable matter, we do not consider them beneficial. BUCK-TOOTHED MAMMALS: RODENTS [Illustration: Eastern Gray Squirrel] Eastern Gray Squirrel (_Sciurus carolinensis_) About 18″ long Bushy tail, less than half the total length Gray fur, white on underside The Gray Squirrel easily adapts itself to any environment. The large treetop nests constructed of _leaves_ are made by this squirrel. A brood of two to six young is raised once or twice each spring. [Illustration: Red Squirrel] Red Squirrel (_Tamiasciurus hudsonicus_) About 14″ long Bushy tail, about half the total length Rusty-red fur, underside white This little squirrel will often be heard before it is seen, scolding its terrestrial enemies with a loud clatter from a perch high in a protective tree. In late spring its yearly brood of four or five is raised in a nest of shredded bark built high in a tree. [Illustration: Eastern Chipmunk] Eastern Chipmunk (_Tamias striatus_) 8″ or 10″ long Reddish-brown fur with two white stripes on back White stripes on back are margined with black