Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-02-09
The TrochIlus and the Crocodile.

Herodotus, that remarkably observing
old traveller, is the first writer to note
the curious relationship existing between
this little bird and the crocodile. In his
terse and telling fashion he says: "All
other beasts and birds avoid the croco-
die, but he is at peace with the trochi-
lus, because he receives benefits from it;
for when the crocodile issues from the
water, and then opens his mouth, which
he does most commonly toward the sun
set, the trochiIus enters his mouth and
swallows the leeches which cling to his
teeth. The huge beast is so we'll pleased
that he never Injuries the little bird"
Subsequent writers, with the sufficient
wisdom that comes of much closet study,
denied the story of the old Greek on the
ground of improbability. On the other
hand, the natives find the account too
bald, and improve upon it by adding
that the zic.zac, as they call the bird, in
likeness to its cry, frequently becomes so
intent upon his business of
picking the crocodile's teeth that
he forgets the lapse of. time,
aud continues his operations so long
in this respect strikingly like our human
trochilus, the dentist-that the monster
in sheer WEAKNESS must close his mouth.
This ungrateful action the trochilus in
dignantly rescnts, and at once with beak
and spurs, proceeds to scarify the croco-
dies interior, with the result of causing
the tired jaws to open once more.
Modern writer's who have been to
Egypt confirm the substance of the story
of Herodotus, but are skeptical as to the
native addition, They affirm, indeed,
that the trochilus is the crocodile's
friend in its despite rather than with its
consent, and that the occasions when the
bird finds itself caught between its ugly
protege's jaws, though infrequent, are
final. This is very likely to be true. for
the crocodile is certainly rapacious and
blood thirsty to the extreme of sullen
brutality.
If it be the case. it is fortunate for the
trochiIus that it is gifted with unusual
agility. It belongs to the family of long
legged birds, which includes great
many species, ranging from the spry lit
tie snipe to the languid herons and
cranes. It's beak is short, but its legs
are long and muscular. as they need be
to enable it to move with the rapidity
for which it is remarkable.
When not on duty 1t remains rather
quiet, and seems to wait for the appear
ance of the ungrateful object of its
solicitude with great patience: but when
the monster is at last moved TO bask upon
sand-bsnk, the trochilus Is full of
activity. 1t runs busily hither and
thither, plucking off and swallowing the
leeches that always are to be found adj
herring to the soft part of the crOcodiles
body.
The lazy saurian, in the meantime, like
those happy mortals who fall asleep
under the BARRIERS ministrations. closes
his mean little eyes and forgets his cares.
Busy as it may be in helping itself to the
toothsome leeches, the trochilus has set
sharp eve out for intruders, and above all
for man. Should any such approach too
near, the sharp cry of the faithful guar
dian rouses the slumberer, which at once
glides away into the water and safety
Harper's Magazine