THE WHIP-POOR-WILL. 



has sunk in the western woods," says Waterton, 

 " when you can only see a straggler or two of 

 the feathered tribe, hastening to join his mate, 

 already at its roosting-place ; then it is that the 

 goat-sucker comes out of the forest, where it has 

 sat all day long in slumbering ease, unmindful 

 of the gay and busy scenes around it. Its eyes 

 are too delicately formed to bear the light, and 

 thus it is forced to shun the flaming face of day, 

 and wait in patience, till night invites him to 

 partake of the pleasures her dusky presence 

 brings. The harmless, unoffending goat-sucker, 

 from the time of Aristotle to the present day, 

 has been in disgrace with man. Father has 

 handed down to son, and author to author, that 

 this nocturnal thief subsists by milking the 

 flocks. Poor, injured little bird of night, how 

 sadly hast thou suffered, and how foul a stain 

 has inattention to facts put upon thy character ! 

 Thou hast never robbed any man of any part of 

 his property, nor deprived the kid of a drop of 

 milk. When the moon shines bright, you may 

 have a fair opportunity of examining the goat- 

 sucker. You will see it close by the cows, 

 goats, and sheep. Approach a little nearer he 

 is not shy : 



" He fears no danger, for he knows no sin." 



