332 SACRED FISH 
This once accomplished, the animal is despatched with ease, 
otherwise ’’ (it may surprise you) “‘ he gives great trouble.’’ ! 
Both the Phagrus 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 3 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-reliefs: ‘‘ not even the Old 
Kingdom mastabas at Sakhara can produce anything to sur- 
pass it for vigour and beauty of technique.”’ 4 
1 The story of the trochilus, with which alone out of all birds and beasts 
our author states the crocodile lives in amity, because the little 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, Pl. 2, Register 3. 
* Crocodiles and Papyri seem a curious juxtaposition! Some time ago 
Dr. Grenfell was excavating ground likely to yield important finds. Bad luck 
dogged his digging: only preserved crocodiles came to light. 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, 
