98 



THE EUROPEAN GOATSUCKER. 



title of Nyctibius, a word derived from the Greek, and signifying Night-liver. It is stronger 

 on the wing than the preceding bii-ds, and is capable of chasing its insect prey as they fly 

 through the air in the dusk of evening, or just before the dawn of morning. In its outward 

 form there is little to attract notice, and its coloring is the same as that of its allies, excepting 

 that some dark bars extend across the head, neck, and lower parts. It is a native of South 

 America, and has been taken in Cayenne. 



There are many well-known proverbs relating to the power of calumny, and the readiness 

 with which an evil report is received and retained, notwithstanding that it has been repeatedly 



'^i^iMi/MsMir 





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EUKOPKAN GOAT-SUCKER.— C'o^ffi)«/g^s europaus. 



proved to be false and libellous. The common Goat-stjckee is a good instance of the truth of 

 this remark, for it was called Aigotheles or Goat-sucker by Aristotle in the days of old, and 

 has been religiously supposed to have sucked goats ever afterwards. The Latin word capri- 

 mulgus bears the same signification. It was even supposed that after the bird had succeeded 

 in sucking some unfortunate goat, tlie fount of nature was immediately dried up, and the poor 

 beast also lost its sight. Starting from this repoxi, all kinds of strange rumors flew about 

 the world, and the poor Goat-sucker, or Nightjar, as it ought more rightly to be called, has 

 been invariably hated as a bird of ill omen to man and beast. 



As usual, mankind reviles its best benefactors, for there are very few creatures which 

 do such service to mankind as the Nightjar. Arriving in the north of Europe in the month of 

 May or June, it reaches the northern shores just in time to catch the cockchaifers, as they fly 

 about during the night in search of their food, and does not leave us until it has done its 

 best to eat every chaffer that comes across its j^ath. 



