Reptiles. 8927 
The Crocodile: Herodotus the Father of (Natural) History.—In Myr. Petherick’s 
interesting account of the crocodile in the White Nile district, reprinted in the 
*Zoologist’ (Zool. 8833) from the ‘ Field, that enterprising and well-known African 
explorer casually writes, ‘‘ Cuvier observes that of all animals, the crocodile attains 
the greatest dimensions, considering its size at birth.” But as this observation was 
made, more than 2000 years before Cuvier was born, by another great African 
explorer, even by Herodotus, and as the Natural History attainments of that invaluable 
historian are often ridiculed and despised by modern savans, as I think very unneces- 
sarily and oftep most undeservedly, it is only fair to give him credit for a fact, which 
he, first at any rate of all extant writers, recorded ; and Mr, Petherick will, I am sure, 
excuse me for correcting the name of his referee, and for pointing out the true author 
of the observation alluded to. The passage occurs in Book II. chapter 68, and is 
as follows :—“ Of all known animals, this is the one which from the smallest size grows 
to be the greatest; for the egg of the crocodile is but little bigger than that of the 
goose, and the young crocodile is in proportion to the egg ; yet when it is full grown, 
the animal measures frequently seventeen cubits, and even more.” Perhaps, while 
calling attention to the zoological information imparted by the father of history, I may 
observe that, though undoubtedly sometimes imposed upon by bis informants, in this 
as in other subjects, and at times over credulous, yet he does impart much that is of 
the deepest interest to us, of the various members of the animal kingdom, as known in 
those early days. Indeed, it is not impossible that, as in the kindred science of 
Archzology, deeper investigation and more accurate research have served to verify 
even the minute details recorded by Herodotus of the works and domestic life of the 
various nations he described; so in Zoology, as we learn more of the vast unexplored 
districts of Central Africa, for example, of whose Natural History we are still 
profoundly ignorant, we may perchance at length discover some foundation for 
assertions which we have hitherto declined to believe. But, at any rate, [ maintain, 
without fear of contradiction, that, even as naturalists, we are indebted to Herodotus 
for much that is of exceeding value to us; and that, remembering the numerous 
popular delusions with regard to members of every department of Zoology, even now 
rife in this nineteenth century, and in this highly civilized country, and that too 
amongst men of education as well as intelligence, it is rash to launch the shaft of 
ridicule against the credulity of our earliest historian, recollecting the famous adage, 
that they who live in glass houses should beware of throwing stones.—Alfred Charles 
Smith; Yatesbury Rectory, Calne, November 5, 1863. 
Frogs climbing Trees—In answer to the inquiry of the Rev. C. A. Johns (Zool. 
8861) as to whether any of your readers have observed frogs climbing trees, I beg to 
say that, although I have never had the good fortune to observe them in actual pro- 
gression up trees, I have frequently found them in, apparently to them, inaccessible 
places, such as the tops of pollard willows, in the vicinity of streams—situations, in 
fact, which could only be attained by climbing. The common toad is also, I should 
say, an adept in climbing, having often found them in the nests of small birds, in 
hedges, and, sad to record, often incubating (?) most recently emptied egg-shells. 
I am a great friend to toads, and therefore, even with such strong circumstantial 
evidence before my eyes, very loath to blame them as the actual perpetrators. 
Probably, from the well-known fact of their climbing, might have arisen the expression, 
vulgo, ‘‘Did you ever observe a toad hedging?”— Henry Reeks; Manor House, 
Thruxton, December 18, 1863. 
