CROCODILE-BIRDS. 



(May 6, 1893.) 



THE current number of the Ibis contains an 

 extremely interesting communication by Mr. J. M. 

 Cook on the subject of the Old World story of the 

 bird which is said to attend on the crocodile, and 

 to enter its mouth for the purpose of either picking 

 its teeth or removing the leeches from its mouth. 

 The latter is the older version, and was told by 

 Herodotus as follows : ' ' All other birds and 

 beasts avoid him [the crocodile] but he is at 

 peace with the Trochilos because he receives 

 benefit from that bird. For when the crocodile 

 gets out of the water on land and then opens its 

 jaws, which it does commonly towards the west, 

 the Trochilos enters its mouth and swallows the 

 leeches; the crocodile is so well pleased with 

 this service that it never hurts the Trochilos." 

 Numberless authors have repeated the story 

 which was amplified and oddly distorted by Pliny 

 and the mediaeval authors who followed him but 

 among modern ornithologists, at all events, it has 

 received but little credence, though it is mentioned 

 by many of them. Their position in the matter is 



