LIZARDS AND CROCODILES. 



159 



He says that the inside of the mouth of the huge rep- 

 tile is covered with leeches; and that while all other 

 birds avoid the crocodile, the trochilus (tro'kilus) lives 

 at peace with it. When the animal lies on the beach, 

 it opens its mouth wide to let in the' fresh breeze. 

 Then its little feathered friend enters the mouth and 

 picks out the leeches, thus doing great service to the 

 monster. Recent travelers have found this story of 

 Herodotus to be true. The plover has been seen to 



Alligator. 



walk up and down the back of the crocodile, and to 

 enter its mouth. But when the hunter appears, the 

 bird screeches and wakes up the sleeping beast, when 

 it darts into the water and is safe. 



The alligator of Florida is the American crocodile. 

 Its young are sometimes petted, and its skin is made 

 use of for leather. Its greatest length is twelve feet. 

 It "does not attack like the African crocodile. Dog 

 meat is especially relished by it, and alligators are said 

 to assemble on hearing the whining of a puppy. Like 

 other reptiles of their kind, crocodiles and alligators 

 lay eggs, which are left in the sand to hatch. 



