i3 2 



cassell's book of birds. 



appetite is appeased, they rest for a time upon some branch, and then sally forth again before morning 

 dawns to procure a second repast. It is not uncommon for the Goatsuckers to wander to a very 

 considerable distance from their usual haunts during these nocturnal excursions, and even approach 

 the immediate vicinity of towns and villages ; nay, so inquisitive and bold are they in regard to the 

 objects they meet with whilst in search of prey, that they will often follow and hover round a man or 

 a dog for a quarter of an hour at a time. During the breeding season their flight becomes still more 

 varied and beautiful, and the birds themselves seem roused to a higher degree of intelligence than is 

 observable at other times ; such species especially, as possess the remarkably long wings or tails we 

 have described, cannot fail to impress those who are fortunate enough to see them gliding or hovering 

 aloft, with their flowing plumage alternately closed or outspread, as they perform their light and 

 elegant gyrations through the realms of air. Russegger describes the African " Four Wings " as 

 looking like some strange being from another world, as it whirls along, at one moment appearing to 

 multiply itself by rapidly assuming the most various attitudes, or revolving like a shuttlecock, with 

 its long feathers streaming and twisting in the wind. The voices of these various birds differ very 

 considerably ; some species uttering a harsh, droning note, not unlike the sound of a spinning-wheel 

 (whence is derived their name of " Night Jar," or " Night Churr "), whilst others are capable of 

 producing by no means inharmonious tones. The European Goatsucker, when alarmed, purrs very 

 much like a cat, and during the breeding season attracts the attention of its mate by two distinct 

 notes ; at other times its cry may be represented by the syllables, " Dak, dak," faintly and hoarsely 

 uttered. So dismal and unearthly are the voices of some American Night Jars, that Schomburghk 

 tell us that neither Indians, Creoles, nor Negroes would venture to shoot one of them, regarding them 

 as direct embodiments of, or emissaries from, the various evil spirits and enchanters, of whose 

 machinations and spells the ignorant natives live in constant dread. 



" A Goatsucker," says Waterton, " inhabits Demerara, about the size of an English Wood Owl, 

 whose voice is so remarkable that when once heard it is not to be easily forgotten. A stranger would 

 never believe it to be the cry of a bird, but would say it was the departing voice of a midnight 

 murdered victim, or the last wailing of poor Niobe for her children, before she was turned to stone. 

 Suppose a person in hopeless sorrow, beginning with a loud note, ' Ha, ha ; ha, ha ; ha, ha, ha ; ' 

 each note lower and lower, till the last is scarcely heard, pausing a moment between each exclamation, 

 and you will have some idea of the moaning of the Great Goatsucker of Demerara. Other species 

 articulate some words so distinctly that they have received their names from the sentences they utter, 

 and absolutely bewilder a stranger on his arrival in their vicinity. One sits down close to your door, 

 or flies and alights three or four yards before you as you walk along the road, crying, ' Who are you ? 

 who, who are you?' Another bids you 'Work away; work, work, work away!' A third cries 

 mournfully, 'Willy, come go ; Willy, Willy, Willy, come go!' and a fourth tells him to 'Whip-poor- 

 Will, Whip-poor-Will !' in tones wonderfully clear and startling." 



As regards their instincts and capabilities, the nocturnal Goatsuckers are far behind the diurnal 

 members of their family, and exhibit so little sense of self-preservation, as constantly to expose 

 themselves to great danger. AVe have frequently, whilst camping out in Africa, whenever we have 

 kindled a fire, been visited by numbers of these birds, apparently quite regardless of the risk they 

 ran of being brought down by our gun. In Spain, however, the Goatsuckers appear to be somewhat 

 more on the alert ; indeed, owing to their supposed dexterity in evading pursuit, they are there called 

 by the peasantry Etigafia Pastor, or " Shepherd Deceivers," as that class of men come most in contact 

 with these birds, whilst tending their flocks ; not from the absurd reason that has obtained such 

 universal credence, but because these much-maligned visitants perform a most invaluable service both 

 to the farmer and his cattle. 



