LECTURE VIII. , 53 



is vulgarly reputed a scaleless fish, but though the 

 scales on a general view are not conspicuous, on 

 account of the slime with which they are covered, 

 yet when the skin is well wiped and dried they 

 are easily visible, and are of a lengthened oval 

 form, of a whitish colour, and exhibit a very elegant 

 texture when examined by the microscope. They 

 have long ago been well described and figured in 

 the works of the celebrated Leewenhoeck. 



The Conger or Sea-Eel (Muraena Conger of 

 Linnaeus) so much resembles the Eel in its general 

 appearance that it has often been considered ra- 

 ther as a variety than truly distinct. It is however 

 of a much larger size, of a blacker or darker co- 

 lour, and is commonly marked along the sides by 

 a row of white specks. It is likewise an inhabit- 

 ant of the sea, and is only an occasional visitant 

 of fresh waters. Both the Eel and the Conger are 

 viviparous ; producing their young, which are very 

 numerous during the decline of summer. The 

 young are at first very small. 



A very celebrated species of this genus is the 

 Murasna of the ancient Romans, who considered it 

 as one of the most luxurious articles of the table, 

 and sometimes kept it in reservoirs, where it was 



