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498 CROCUS CROGHAN strata. Those with an anterior convexity and posterior concavity, of which the type is steneo- saurus (Geoff.), resembled the gavials, and have been found in the lias and oolite of England. CROCUS, a genus of plants of the order irida- cecB. There are two sorts of crocuses, those which blossom in spring, such as crocus vernm, with purple or white flowers, and finely netted root coats, and G. Susianus, or cloth-of-gold crocus, with small, deep yellow flowers, the se- pals of which are curiously veined with dark, chocolate-brown lines; and those which blos- som in the autumn, such as the saffron crocus (G. sativus), an oriental plant, cultivated for its long, orange-colored, drooping styles, and Garden Crocus. the Sicilian crocus (G. odorus), whose flowers are fragrant. The saffron crocus blossoms in October, but it is not commonly seen in our gardens. It is, however, extensively cultivated for its produce of saffron in some parts of Eng- land. Good saffron consists of the stigmas only, which are small, narrow, and extremely light interior parts of the flower. The crocuses are mostly hardy little plants, and once intro- duced into the flower borders, they will con- tinue and increase without care. CRCESUS, king of Lydia, succeeded to the throne before the middle of the 6th century B. 0. Writers of high repute, however, con- jecture that he had already been for 15 years associated in the government with his father Alyattes, and that many of the events recorded by Herodotus as belonging to his reign are to be referred to this period of joint government. This view is rejected by Rawlinson, according to whom his reign extended from 568 to 554. He ascended the throne in a time of peace and prosperity; he was the heir to untold trea- sures; success crowned all his early efforts ; he subdued the Greek cities on the coast of Asia Minor, formed an alliance with the Grecian islands, and extended his conquests toward the east to the river Halys. He was now a mighty monarch, ruling over 13 nations, and in alliance with the powerful rulers of Media, Babylon, and Egypt ; the vast wealth which he had in- herited had been increased by the tribute of conquered countries, by the confiscation of great estates, and by the golden sands of the Pacto- lus. We may perhaps form some idea of the extent of this wealth from the votive offerings which he deposited in the temples. Herodotus saw the ingots of solid gold, six palms long, three broad, and one deep, which to the num- ber of 117 were laid up in the treasury at Del- phi. He also beheld in various parts of Greece other rich offerings, all in gold, which had been deposited in the temples by the same op- ulent monarch ; among them a figure of a lion, probably of the natural size ; a wine bowl of about the same weight as the lion ; a lustral vase; and a statue of a female, said to be Croesus's baking woman, three cubits high. But in the midst of all his wealth and prosperity, Croesus began to be alarmed at the rapid con- quests of Cyrus ; and when at length he saw the Median power fall before the Persian arms, he resolved to avenge his brother-in-law Astyages, the dethroned king of Media. He accordingly crossed the Halys, and offered battle to the Persians, but after an indecisive engagement returned to Sardis. Cyrus pursued him, took the city, and made him his prisoner. Croesus was condemned to be burned alive, but was finally spared, and became the confidential ad- viser of his conqueror, and afterward of his son Cambyses. Rawlinson regards the narrative of the life of Croesus as largely mythical. CROFT, William, an English composer, born in Warwickshire in 1677, died in 1727. At the age of 31 he obtained the position of com- poser to the chapel royal and organist to West- minster abbey, which he held until his death. As a composer of cathedral music he held a high rank. The degree of doctor of music was conferred on him by the university of Oxford in 1715. In 1724 he published, under the title of Musica Sacra, an edition of his select an- thems, 2 vols. folio, arranged for two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight voices. Some of these are still performed in the English church service. Dr. Croft was buried in Westminster abbey. CROGHAN, George, an American soldier, born near Louisville, Ky., Nov. 15, 1791, died in New Orleans, Jan. 8, 1849. He graduated at William and Mary college, Va., served in 1811 at the battle of Tippecanoe, was made captain in the following year, and major March 30, 1813. On May 5, 1813, he distinguished him- self as aide-de-camp of Gen. Harrison in the defence of Fort Meigs ; and on Aug. 1 and 2 he successfully defended Fort Stephenson, at Lower Sandusky (now Fremont), Ohio, with a garrison of 160 men, against the attack of Gen. Proctor, with a force of over 1,000, half regulars and half' Indians ; and this, notwith- standing the fort was so weakly constructed and poorly provided, that he had actually been