CROCODILE-BIRD. A plover (Marianne .Egyptins) of the Nile Valley. sometimes placed amomg the coursers (genus Cursorius). it is re markable for its association with the crocodile, and now is usually :dentified With the t rochil or 'leech-enter' of Herodotus, whose account of it, long regarded as is quoted by Stej neger as follows: "As the crocodile lives chiefly on the river, it has the inside of its mouth con stantly covered witlu leeches: hence it happens that, while all other bird: and beasts avoid it, with the troehilus it at peace, since it owes much to that bird, for the crocodile, when he leaves the water and COBB'S out the land, is in the habit of lying with his mouth wide open, facing the western breeze: at such times the trochilus goes into his mouth and devours the leeches. This benefits the crocodile. who is pleased and takes care not to hurt the trfichilus." :Modern writers wholly denied this, lint it is BOW known to be mainly true: that is to say, these birds do run about the bodies of crocodiles asleep or basking on the sand, in search of the insects or crustaceans clinging to their hides; and may at favorable moments pick parasites and particles of food from their lips, teeth, and gums. This
has been actually seen by snch good observers as Alfred Brehm and others, and has also been as serted of a related bird, the Egyptian lapwing. A very complete account of the evidence of this fact. and for identifying this species with the bird of the Herodotus tradition, will be found in Newton's Dictionary of Birds (London. 189-1), article "Plover." The colors of this species are lavender and cream, strikingly marked with black on the crown and on the sides of the head, the black stripes joining and passing, broadly along the back, and also extending down the sides of the breast. Consult: Shelly, Birds of Egypt (London. IS72) ; The Field (London, September 2, ISS3). See Plate of PLOVERS.