THE GUACIJAROS. 99 



tions or by some industrious mammal. Here, at the 

 bottom of the gallery, it piles up a bed of moss, dry roots, 

 and grass, on which the female lays her eggs. In this 

 comparatively secure retreat the fledgelings pass the early 

 stages of their existence; occasionally advancing to the 

 entrance, but starting back immediately on the appearance 

 of any strange or suspicious object. 



A remarkable genus of the goatsuckers, which belongs 

 exclusively to South America, is the Guacharos. We 

 notice it here, though, strictly speaking, it does not range 

 beyond the limits of the Tropical World, It is about as 

 large as a pigeon, measuring eighteen inches in length, 

 including the tail; which, however, is very long in pro- 

 portion to the body. Its bill is long and hooked, but 

 broad at the base ; the nostrils are large, and pierced near 

 the middle of the sides of the bill ; the toes are of mode- 

 rate strength and length ; and the general colouring of the 

 plumage is sufficiently dull, consisting of minute spots of 

 black, brown, gray, and red, relieved on the head and neck, 

 and tail and wings, by a few patches of white. 



The guacharos are nocturnal birds, but, unlike all other 

 goatsuckers, they feed on fruits and seeds, and never on 

 insects. Hence their fat is abundant, and yields a con- 

 siderable quantity of excellent oil, for the sake of which 

 they are eagerly hunted by the Indians. A favourite 

 resort is a cavern at Caripe, hence called the Cueva del 

 Guacharo ; which, according to Humboldt, the Indians 

 visit annually, on or about the festival of St. John. They 

 take with them long poles, and with these destroy all the 



