150 SAUEIANS. 



black, and marbled upon the bead and neck witb tbe same colour, 

 also tbe back and tail ; two or tbree broad, oblique black bands 

 are visible upon tbe flanks of tbe under part of tbe body, wbicb is 

 of a yellowisb green. Crocodiles abound in Africa. Formerly 

 tbey were found in all parts of tbe Nile, but lately it is said tbat 

 C. vulgaris is no longer to be met witb in tbe Delta, but tbat it 

 exists in great numbers in tbe Tbebaid and in tbe Upper Nile. 

 Tbey are also found in tbe rivers Senegal and Niger, in Cafiraria, 

 and in Madagascar. Most autbors give tbem tbe name of Croco- 

 diles of tbe Nile. Tbis species are fovmd also in India. 



Tbe Crocodile was considered a sacred animal by tbe ancient 

 Egyptians. In ruins of temples mummies of Crocodiles are still 

 found in a perfect state of preservation. Tbe Romans introduced 

 living Crocodiles at tbe national games in tbe Colosseum. At first 

 only five were imported under tbe aedilesbip of Scaurus. Under 

 tbe Emperor Augustus tbirty-six were killed in tbe Circus of 

 Flaminius. Several ancient medals represent tbis reptile, tbe 

 body of wbicb perfectly resembles tbat wbicb now lives in tbe 

 waters and on tbe banks of tbe Nile. Tbere is a truly wonderful 

 fact in tbe natural bistory of tbe Crocodile. Listen to wbat 

 Herodotus, tbe fatber of bistory, tells us witb regard to it : — 

 " Wben tbe Crocodile takes bis food in tbe Nile, tbe interior of 

 its moutb is always covered witb hdella (flies) . All birds, witb one 

 single exception, flee from tbe Crocodile ; but tbis one, tbe Nile Bird, 

 Trochylus, far from avoiding it, flies towards tbe reptile witb 

 tbe greatest eagerness, and renders it a very essential service. 

 Every time tbe Crocodile goes on sbore to sleep, and at tbe moment 

 wben it lies extended witb open jaws, tbe Nile Bird enters tbe 

 moutb of tbe terrible animal and delivers it from tbe hdella wbicb 

 it finds tbere ; tbe Crocodile sbows its recognition of tbe service, 

 and never barms tbe bird." 



Tbis fact, reported by Herodotus, was long considered to be a 

 fable, but tbe naturalist, Etienne Geofiroy Saint- Hilaire, wbo 

 formed part of tbe commission tbat General Bonaparte took witb 

 bim in bis expedition into Egypt, bad on several occasions oppor- 

 tunities of proving tbe trutb of tbe bistorian's narrative. 



In a memoir read to tbe Academy of Science on tbe 28tb 

 of January, 1828, be says, "It is perfectly true tbat tbere 



