Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 05.djvu/689

* CROCODILE-BIRD. 595 CRCESUS. and now is usually identified with the tnichiliiit (ir 'U'eoli-c-.itov' of lloriidotus, wliosc account of it, long rcjjavdcil as fabulous, is quoted l)y Stej- iieger as follows: "As the crocodile lives chielly on the rivei', it has the inside of its mouth con- stanth' covered with leeches; hence it hajijiens that, while all other hirds and beasts avoid it, with the trochilus it lives at ])eace, since it owes much to that bird. fiU' the crocodile, when he leaves the water and couics out upon the land, is in the habit of lying with his mouth wide open, facing the western breeze: at such times the trochilus goes into his mouth and devours the leeches. This benefits the crocodile, who is pleased and takes care not to hurt the trochilus." ^lodcrn writers wholly denied this, but it is now kmnvn to be .mainly true: that is to say, these birds do run about the bodies of crocodiles asleep or basking on the sand, in search of the insects or crustaceans clinging to their hides; and may at favorable moments pick parasites and particles of food from their lijjs, teeth, and gums. This lias been actually seen by such good observers as Alfred Brohm and others, and has also been as- serted of a related bird, the Kgj'ptian lapwing. A yery complete account of the evidence of this fact, and for identifying this species with the bird of the Herodotus tradition, will be found in Xewton's Diclioiiari/ of Hirdn (London, 1894), article "Plover." The colors of this species are lavender and cream, strikingly marked with black on the crown and on the sides of the head, the black stripes joining and passing broadly along the back, and also extending down the sides of the hrea.st. Consult : Shelly. BirtU of Einil't (London. 1872) ; The Field (London, September 2, 1SS3). See Plate of Plovees. CROCODILE RIVER. See Limpopo. CROCODILE TEARS. Hypocritical, forced expressions of grief. This use of the term has sprung from the fiction of travelers that croco- diles shed tears over their prey. The conceit of crocodilrs' tears (the animals have large lachry- mal glands) was common in Shakespeare's time, and Spenser {Faerie Quceiie, i. 14-18) describes them. CEO'COITE (from f!k. kpok6fic, krokoeis, saflron-colored, from KpSicn^, krokos, saffron). A lead chromate. It crystallizes in the mono- clinic system, has an adamantine to vitreous lus- tre, and occurs in various shades of bright red. It is found in crystals in quartz veins or in inter- secting gneiss or granite, and is conunonly asso- ciated with gold ])yrite and other metallic ores. Crocoite occurs in the L'rals, Hungary, Brazil, and with wulfenite in Maricopa County, Ari- zona. CRO'CtrS (Lat.. from Gk. ki>6koc, krokos. saf- fron ). A genus of the natural order Iridaceie. The species have much general similarity, and are natives chiefly of the south of Europe and of the East. They set seed, but since the seed-pods are under groimd and are frequently overlooked, and since production of flowers from seed-sown plants is slow, they are chiefly propagated hy their corms. Saffron ])repared from the stamens of Crori(s safims is used medicinally and fcu' dye- ing; for the latter ■])urpose. however, aniline colors are replacing if. .^ome of the species are nuich cultivated in gardens for the beauty of their flowers, particularly those which. as Croriis ■vcrnus and Crocus impcniti and the Dutch hy- brids of Crocus masiacus, flower very early in the spring. The salTron crocus and some other species tlower in aulnnni. The llowers of some S|)ecie3 are fragrant. It is necessary frequently to take up crocus-roots and jilant anew, on ac- coiuit of the manner in which the corms multi])ly — the new forming in some species above the old, thus, in time, raising the corm to or even above the surface of the ground. When i)lanted in lawns the bulbs must be replaced cvcrv two or tliree years, because they scum become sniothered by the grass. The autumn-flowering species are sclilom cultivated in the United States. See Colored Plate with luis. CROCUS OF ANTIMONY, or Chocus Met- .Li.on; M. The briglit-red antimony oxysulphide that is found native as kcniicsitc. CROCUS OF MARS, or CROCUS MARTIS. A jjolisliing substance consisting of finely pow- dered ferric oxides. CRCE'SUS (Ok. Kpoiaoc, Kroisos). A Lydian l-;ing of the Jlernmad;e iine. The son of Alyattes, whom he succeeded, he flourished in the sixth century B.C. He came to the throne about the age of 35 (B.C. 5U0), and found the wrangling .l^olians, Dorians, and lonians an easy prey, but he did not press his advantage as conqueror be- yond the exaction of tribute. Save Lycia and Cilici'a. all Asia iUinor west of the Halys fell before him. His ability in practical affairs soon made him the richest of monarchs, and "rich as Cra'sus' was a h3']ierbole formerly more apt than in our day of fabulous wealth. His capital, Sardis, became the brilliant centre of arts and letters, and C'rtrsus was a numificent ])atron. The gi'eat-souled law-giver of the Gn^eks was one of his A'isitors. Herodotus informs us, and when questioned by the King whether the possessor of so great riches might not be deemed the hap- piest of men, Solon replied in a frank philoso]>hy, the value of which covild not then be appreciated. ^"hen the long peace of the kingdom was evi- dently about to be disturbed by the encroaching Persians. Croesus formed a league with the Laceda-monians. He sought to propitiate the gods by bestowing rich gifts upon Apollo's shrine, and. encouraged by the oracle's deliver- ance that he "would destroy a great empire." he determined to take the offensive. With his Lydian forces only, he joined battle with the enemy, but achieved no advantage, a failure which he attributed to the inadequate support of his mercenaries. Returning to Sardis, he called upon the Laeedamionians for their jiromised .lid, and invited the assistiince of the Egyjrtian King, Amasis. meaning to renew the contest early in the next year. V'or this Cyrus did iu)t choose to w>ait, but decided upon iuuuedinte action. Cnesus, ahnost totally unprepared, met a certain defeat at Thymbrji. and. after a short siege of Sardis, surrendered his capital. After a reign of four- teen years he gave up his crown to the Persian. The oracle spoke truth — he destroyed a great emiiirc. but it was his own. Herodotus further relates that as the Lydian awaited the fire Mbich. by command of Cyrus, was to consume liini, he remembered his conversation with the Athenian ])hilosopher. and called out ''Solon, Solon. Solon!" Desiring to know the reason of the exclamation. Cyrus heard the story, and straightway conunanded that the victim be spared. But Apollo's intercession was required