Fishes (Pisces). i i i 



the pots and vases and only let their heads be seen. In the sea 

 they hide in the same way among the rocks. The Conger Eel 

 is a very voracious fish which sometimes reaches the enormous 

 length of 6 feet; and even in captivity, thanks to its tremendous 

 appetite, attains very considerable dimensions. After the attain- 

 ment of a certain size, however, it regularly dies, because the 

 sexual products, which it is unable to deposit in the aquarium, 

 increase too much within the body. It is not very much prized 

 in the market, but forms a cheap food for the poorer classes. 



The Muraena differs from the Conger in the absence of pectoral 

 fins and in the beautiful colouring of its skin. It will, however, 

 share its abode, and often two or three will be found crowded in 

 a very small space. Their snake-like motion when swimming, their 

 brilliant colour, the tall fin-like crest, and the curious head with 

 its fixed eyes and constantly gaping mouth give them a very 

 remarkable appearance. The Romans, as is well known, took 

 endless trouble to be well supplied with this fish and went so far 

 as to close off small bays of the sea for breeding them. According 

 to Pliny, a certain Hirius is said to have placed before his friends 

 6000 Muraense on the occasion of Caesar's triumphal procession. 

 Crassus was the owner of a large Muraena which he decked out 

 with gold ornaments and cared for in every conceivable way, 

 burying it after its death and weeping over its grave. Vedius 

 Pollio is said to have drowned several of his slaves as a punish- 

 ment for some fault in his Muraenae ponds, as he had heard that, 

 when fed on human flesh, the Muraenae were more delicate. 

 Even to-day the Muraena is greatly prized, and the classic Bay of 

 Pozzuoli is one of its most famous marts. They are caught in 

 creels or pots, called "nasse", or with the line, on which they 

 sometimes struggle with great violence and are not easily 

 overpowered, as they are very vicious and too smooth and 

 slimy to be firmly held. The fishermen rightly consider their 

 bite poisonous, for some of their sharp teeth are connected 

 with a poison-gland. Recently it has been proved that their 

 blood acts as a violent poison (as does that of the Common 

 Eel) when injected into the blood of a mammal. — In the 

 Aquarium they can be kept for years, but sometimes they suffer 

 from a parasitic worm ( Trcmatode), which settles on them in 

 masses and by injury to the skin kills them. Luckily there is a 

 ready remedy for this disease. The fish are put in fresh-water 

 once or twice for about five minutes, which they readily stand 

 but which destroys the parasites. 



Up to now we have only met among the fishes rather repulsive 

 characteristics. Greed, voracity, cunning, venomousness — such 

 atributes are of course necessary in the stern struggle for existence ; 

 but it is pleasant to come to a fish which is the personification 

 of harmlessness and amiabihty and which combines these good 



