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THE EUROPEAN GOAT-SUGKER. 
title of Nyctibius, a word derived from the Greek, and signifying Night-liver. It is stronger 
on the wing than the preceding birds, and is capable of chasing its insect prey as they fly 
thiough 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 
EUROPEAN GOAT-SUCKER. — Caprimulgus europceus. 
proved to be false and libellous. The common Goat-sucker is a good instance of the truth of 
this remark, for it was called Aigotlieles 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, the fount of nature was immediately dried up, and the poor 
beast also lost its sight. Starting from this report, 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 cockchaffers, 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 path. 
