332 SACRED FISH 



This once accomplished, the animal is despatched with ease, 

 otherwise " (it may surprise you) " he gives great trouble." ^ 



Both the Phagnis and the Crocodile possessed foreknowledge 

 as to the rise of the river, the first as to time, the latter as to 

 extent, for " in what place soever the female lays her eggs, that 

 may be concluded to be the utmost extent to which the Nile 

 will spread that year." 2 



Blackman ^ praises the art of a scene, as (although the 

 crocodile is but roughly blocked out) one ranking with the finest 

 specimens of ancient Egyptian bas-reUefs : " not even the Old 

 Kingdom mastabas at Sakhara can produce anything to sur- 

 pass it for vigour and beauty of technique." ^ 



^ The story of the trochilus, with which alone out of all birds and beasts 

 our author states the crocodile Uves in amity, because the httle bird enters its 

 mouth (when on land) and frees it from myriads of devouring leeches, is too well 

 known for reference, were it not for the dispute (a) as to whether the bird — ■ 

 Pluvianus egyptius — performs any service except uttering a shrill cry on the 

 approach of man and thus warning the crocodile, and (b) whether for leeches, 

 we should not substitute gnats. Cf. W. Houghton, N. H. of the Ancients 

 (London), pp. 238-244. The account of the connection between the bird and the 

 beast given by Plutarch is far prettier and more spirited than that of Herodotus. 



2 Plutarch, ibid., 75. The beasts enjoyed both a hereditary transmission 

 of holiness and a subtle discrimination as to the build of a boat, for fishermen 

 who embark in one made of papyrus enjoy security from their attentions, 

 " they having either a fear or else a veneration for this sort of boat," because 

 Isis in her search for the remains of Osiris used such a means of conveyance. 

 Plutarch, ibid., 18. 



3 Op. cit., II. p. 14, PI. 2, Register 3. 



* Crocodiles and Papyri seem a curious juxtaposition ! Some time ago 

 Dr. Grenfell was excavating ground hkely to yield important finds. Bad luck 

 dogged his digging : only preserved crocodiles came to hght. One day a 

 labourer, incensed at work wasted on the beasts, jabbed his pick into the 

 latest specimen, whose head disgorged a roll of papyrus. Similar head- 

 smashings were fruitful of results, most of which belong to the Hearst Col- 

 lection, 



