MALACOPTERYGII APODES. 547 



eating, and would be still more so were it not filled with a 

 number of short and curved bones. 



The Murasnae, which are extremely cunning, are fished for 

 with wheels and fathom-lines. They were carefully reared in 

 vivaria by the Romans. As early as the time of Caesar the 

 multiplication of these domestic murasnas was so great, that 

 on the occasion of one of his triumphs, that great general 

 presented six thousand of them to his friends. Licinius 

 Crassus reared them so as to be obedient to his voice, and to 

 come and receive their food from his hands; while the cele- 

 brated orator Quintus Hortensius wept over the loss of those 

 of which death had deprived him. 



In all cases the bite of these fishes is severe, and often 

 dangerous. 



The murcena grisea has been described by Commerson : it 

 lives in the midst of the rocks detached from the shore which 

 environ New Britain and the neighbouring islands. The 

 effect of its bite is said to be similar to the cut of a razor. 



There is another species, Pantherina, which occupies the 

 same habitat, and whose bites are not less painful and dan- 

 gerous. 



We shall conclude our remarks on this order with some 

 observations on the very remarkable genus Gymnotus. 



It is impossible to survey any part of nature, animate or 

 inanimate, with the eye of a philosopher, without receiving 

 unequivocal demonstration of that combined wisdom and 

 power by which all things have been formed. To the reflect- 

 ing mind, the simple blade of grass, the commonest shell 

 which is cast upon the sea-shore, present ample materials for 

 meditation and wonder. In general, however, the objects by 

 which we are daily environed cease to impress us thus, in 

 consequence of their familiarity; but when we are transported 

 either in person or in thought to other regions, where nature 

 manifests herself in a series of new phenomena, their con- 



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