835 



MUR^NA. 



The body lengthened, tapering behind; dorsal and anal fins uniting 

 to lorm the tail; no pectoral fius;- gill opening a small aperture on 

 each side; barbs on the snout. 



MUR^NA. 



MuAcena, Johston; Table 5, f. 4. 



WiLLOUGHBY; p. 103, Table G 1. 

 Murcena Helena, Linnaeus. Cuvier. Bloch; pi. 153. 



" " Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 406. 



The principal interest which among us attaches itself to the 

 Mursena is derived from the manner in which it was regarded 

 by the ancient Romans, who, whether they viewed it as a 

 delicacy for the table or as an object of amusement, and 

 even of affection, are recorded to have carried their estimation 

 of it to such an extent that Cicero felt himself warranted in 

 saying that they paid more attention to these fish than to 

 the interests of their country. Indeed the tales that are told 

 of the manner in which the Muraenae were treated, and the 

 expense employed in pampering them, could be rendered 

 probable only by what we know of the force of fashion, and 

 the reports handed down to us of the wide-spread pro- 

 fligacy and idle craving for amusement which had superseded 

 the former characteristics of the Roman nobles, whose enormous 

 wealth was formed of the plunder of the whole known world. 

 We derive a chief portion of our knowledge of these particulars 

 from the "Natural History" of Pliny, who says that C. Hirius 

 was the first who formed preserve-ponds for these fish, which, 

 however, were not kept for sale; for on the occasion of a 

 triumphal banquet given by Julius Caesar, when he supplied 

 six thousand of these Mursence to the feast, he gave it to be 



