The Trochilus
This bird, as described by Aristotle, and others, is of a peculiar turn
of mind:--"When the Crocodile gapes, the trochilus flies into its mouth
to cleanse its teeth; in this process the trochilus procures food, and
the other perceives it, and does not injure it; when the Crocodile
wishes the trochilus to leave, it moves its neck that it may not bite
the bird."
Giovanni Leone--before quoted--says, respecti
sayled further we saw great numbers of crocodiles upon the banks of the
ilands in the midst of Nilus lye baking them in the sunne with their
jawes wide open, whereinto certaine little birds about the bignesse of a
thrush entering, came flying forth againe presently after. The occasion
whereof was told me to be this: the crocodiles by reason of their
continuall devouring beasts and fishes have certaine pieces of flesh
sticking fast betweene their forked teeth, which flesh being putrified,
breedeth a kind of worme, wherewith they are cruelly tormented; wherefor
the said birds flying about, and seeing the wormes enter into the
Crocodile's jaws to satisfie their hunger thereon, but the Crocodile
perceiving himselfe freede from the wormes of his teeth, offereth to
shut his mouth, and to devour the little bird that did him so good a
turne, but being hindred from his ungratefull attempt by a pricke which
groweth upon the bird's head, hee is constrayned to open his jawes, and
to let her depart."
Du Bartas gives another colour to the behaviour of the Trochilus:--
"The Wren, who seeing (prest with sleep's desire)
Nile's poys'ny Pirate press the slimy shoar,
Suddenly coms, and, hopping him before,
Into his mouth he skips, his teeth he pickles,
Clenseth his palate, and his throat so tickles,
That, charm'd with pleasure, the dull Serpent gapes.
Wider and wider, with his ugly chaps:
Then, like a shaft, th' Ichneumon instantly
Into the Tyrants greedy gorge doth fly,
And feeds upon that Glutton, for whose Riot,
All Nile's fat margents scarce could furnish diet."
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