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PLUVIANUS MGYPTIUS.
Zic-zac.

Charadrius Atgyptius, Linn. Syst. N
p. 204, 9a.
Alexandrinus, var. B. Atgyptius, Gmel. edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 6

————— melanocephalus, Gmel. edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. pe 692, ioe
Africanus, Say. Desc. de Egypte, Ois., tab. 6. fig. 4, —

——_——— niger, Bodd. Kittl. Kupf. Vog., t. 4. cree

Pluvianus chlorocephalus, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist, N

at. 1 D
at., tom. 1. p. 254.—Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. ii. p. 744. —Id. Gen. Syn., vol. v.

 

a Te at., tom. xxvii, p. 130.
——— Asgpytis, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds Uh, 10), SHG — i

ote S, vol. lil. p. 536, Loche, Cat. Mamm. et Ois. obs. en Algérie,
Cursor charadrioides, Wagl. Syst. Av. Cursor, sp. 6.

Ammoptila charadrioides, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 364

 

Tue story of the old Greek writer Herodotus about the Trochilos entering the mouth of the Crocodile is
well known to every classical scholar, and hence any remark on the subject is unnecessary ; hut I may state
that ornithologists are divided in opinion as to whether the bird intended was the present one or the Spur-
winged Plover (Hoplopterus spinosus), which is equally common on the banks of the Nile. The point is,
however, of little moment, since, in all probability, the story is not founded on truth, and, if it were, one
bird is just as likely to perform the office of teeth-cleaner to the Crocodile as the other. Recent research
having ascertained that the Pluvianus Afgyptius is found within the western boundary of the Asiatic con-
tinent, I embrace the opportunity of inserting in the present work a drawing which was intended as an
illustration of ‘an oft-told tale.”

The true habitat of the P. #gyptius is Africa, over the fluviatile portions of which it is dispersed from
Egypt and Algeria southwards to Angola. As I know nothing of the bird from personal observation, I
shall here transcribe the few meagre passages which have been published respecting it.

I commence with the following extract from Herodotus, which was sent to me by W. White Cooper, Esq.,
with the view of calling my attention to the subject.

“ Crycodile and Trochilos—A\l other birds and beasts avoid him; 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 most 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.”—AHerodotus,
Euterpe, chap. 68.

“To this species,” says Dr. Leith Adams, “as well as to the spur-winged Lapwing, the name of Zic-zac
who in bird-nomenclature, as in other subjects, evince no great accuracy or
apply the above name to the Black-headed

quently mistaken for the other, as this

The Black-headed Plover

is applied by the natives,
perception. It is not easy to see the reason why they should
Plover, unless that it frequents the same situations, and is conse
r in plumage nor voice any similarity to the Spurwing.
eeds about March; its flight is rapid, and call loud and piping, One series
boat and settles on the bank, resemble the

handsome bird has neithe
iS usually seen in pairs, and br
of notes, when alarmed, it utters on wing,
words chip-chip-hoit. It is not common above the

islands.” Speaking of the Hoplopterus spinosus, Dr. Adams says, appease (0 Seat
considering this species the Trochilos of Herodotus than the Pluvianus gyptius, ing oy

, historian is still current among the Egyptians, and with reference to t us ird,
o the Crocodile, is sometimes shut up within the jaws of

On such occasions the Zic-zac (so named from its
eshing the memory of the latter that his
ately, as if his reptilian majesty was
n good authority, as being very

as it wheels past your
First Cataract, owing to the absence of sand-banks and

«There appears to me better reason for

known narrative of the Greek
which they state, in its capacity of leech-catcher t
the animal when the latter falls asleep on a sand-b
s to the Crocodile’s mouth, by way of rel :
faithful henchman is within, when the monster’s jaws reopen ee oS
sorry for his obliviousness. This addition to the ou story ee en to n
generally believed among the Nile boatmen.”—"10s ee :
“In reply to your inquiry,” writes Mr. ae W an oe ae
feeding in the Crocodile’s mouth, and picking his teeth, to it ees ne
Crocodiles, sometimes with these birds nestlit ae cert eee
fare obtained from the Crocodile’s ee > eee ee
to having shot, 1 ¢

ank.

call) applies bis spur

ate that I believe the story of the Zic-zac
I have seen upwards of a hundred

ler him and, moreover, the
i under 5
end be exceedingly meagre,
i ould find nothing adhering
several I must plead guilty