SOUTH AMERICA. 
129 
longer agitated by the breeze; when you can only 
see a straggler or two of the feathered tribe hastening 
to join its mate, already at its roosting place, then 
it is that the goatsucker comes out of the forest, 
where it has sat all day long in slumbering ease, 
unmindful of the gay and busy scenes around it. 
Its eyes are too delicately formed to bear the light, 
and thus it is forced to shun the flaming face of 
day, and wait in patience till night invites him to 
partake of the pleasures her dusky presence brings. 
The harmless, unoffending goatsucker, from the 
time of Aristotle down to the present day, has been 
in disgrace with man. Father has handed down to 
son, and author to author, that this nocturnal thief 
subsists by milking the flocks. Poor injured little 
bird of night, how sadly hast thou suffered, and 
how foul a stain has inattention to facts put upon 
thy character ! Thou hast never robbed man of any 
part of his property, nor deprived the kid of a drop 
of milk. 
When the moon shines bright, you may have a 
fair opportunity of examining the goatsucker. You 
will see it close by the cows, goats, and sheep, jump¬ 
ing up every now and then, under their bellies. 
Approach a little nearer,—he is not shy, “ he fears 
no danger, for he knows no sin.” See how the 
nocturnal flies are tormenting the herd, and with 
what dexterity he springs up and catches them, as 
fast as they alight on the belly, legs, and udder of 
the animals. Observe how quiet they stand, and 
how sensible they seem of his good offices, for they 
K 
SECOND 
JOTTHNEY. 
Tlie Goat¬ 
sucker. 
