676 



FISHES. 



The Mursenas are as abundantly represented in tlie 

 tropical and sub-tropical zones, and have nearly the same 

 range, as Ophichthys. The number of species known exceeds 

 eighty. The majority are armed with formidable pointed 

 teeth, well suited for seizing other fisli on which they prey. 

 Large specimens thus armed readily attack persons in and 

 out of the water ; and as some species attain a length of some 

 six or eight feet, they are justly feared by fishermen. The 

 minority of species have ol^tuse and molar-like teeth, their 

 food consisting chiefly of Crustaceans and other hard-shelled 



Fig. 304.— Head of a Muroena. 



animals. Most of the Mursenas are beautifully coloured and 



Fig. 305. — Mursena pavoiiiiia, from Southern Seas. 



spotted, some in a regular and constant manner, whilst in 

 others the pattern varies in a most irregular fashion : they 

 have quite the appearance of snakes. The Murasna of the 



