ORDER PASSERES. 105 



means modern, for it appears, by the Greek appellative, to 

 have existed in the time of Aristotle, though it seems 

 probable, that the first application of the name might have 

 had rather a figurative than a literal meaning. Many of the 

 insectiverous birds, it is true, are found frequently near the 

 persons of cattle and sheep while grazing — for the purpose, 

 doubtless, of preying on the numerous insects which feed on 

 the excretions from these animals ; but this habit is common 

 to many genera of birds, and gives no reasonable support to 

 the notion in question, which is incompatible with the organi- 

 zation of the whole class. They are known among the 

 peasantry in France by the name of Engoulevent, or Wind- 

 swallowers, and Crapaud-volant, or Flying-toads, names 

 which seem also to have reference to the extraordinary 

 capacity of the gape. 



These birds are inhabitants of Europe, and, indeeed, are 

 found in almost all parts of the world ; but they are rare 

 here, and more so in appearance than reality, from their 

 crepusculous habits. It is in the new world, especially South 

 America, that they most abound, and are divisible into many 

 species. Asia, and New Holland, moreover, are not without 

 them. 



Unfitted, like the owls, for full day-light, the Goatsuckers 

 hide themselves in some obscure retreat. Twilight is their 

 short period of activity, but the rapidity of their flight, and 

 the size of the mouth, enable them to make the most of 

 this limited time in procuring food. They devote no time 

 to nidification, but deposit their eggs in simple concavities 

 on the ground, and thus the time necessary for the two 

 great occupations of animal existence, self-support and pro- 

 pagation, are proportioned to the comparative short periods 

 of their activity. In the day, they sometimes utter a 

 plaintive cry, repeated rapidly three or four times, and 

 indicative of the then negative character of their desires, for 

 they seem to want nothing but retirement and repose. 



