-Sl- 

 it is certain that they are pursued by some enemy. In the 

 neighbourhood of the coast they attract sea-birds, which hunt 

 them from above. They are less persecuted by men, for their 

 flesh is hard and tasteless. When taken they also growl like 

 the Gurnards. In the Aquarium they are only periodically seen. 



In similar swarms the Red mullet (Mullus barbatus) fre- 

 quents the muddy bottom , rich in animal organisms , of the 

 ocean, where they eagerly seek for food with the two sensitive 

 barbels on their jaws. In the Aquarium one can observe the 

 play of these two feelers; sometimes they slowly and carefully 

 search the mud , and at other times move with great rapidity 

 in all directions, or are drawn back into the folds of the jaws. 

 The Red Mullet was highly prized by the Romans, and incred- 

 ible sums were paid for a large fish. Seneca and Juvenal 

 relate that some were worth from 6 to 8000 sestertia. The 

 fish were also presented alive in glass dishes to the guests , 

 and allowed to die in the "hands of women, who delighted in 

 watching the beautiful play of colour on the scales. The red- 

 mullet is still highly valued in all Italian markets, but is not 

 very dear. 



As an inhabitant of the rocks, we have still to mention the 

 Eel, of which species the great Conger-Eel (Conger marinus) 

 and the Muraena (Muraena helena) are to be found in the 

 Aquarium the whole year round. The other species frequenting 

 the Gulf, such as the Conger myrus and Ophisurus, are 

 rarer guests, and only occasionally to be found. In the tank 

 containing the eels and muraenae , these creatures are found 

 in various situations ; some swimming about with beautiful 

 undulations of their bodies; others lying half hidden in vessels 

 and jars placed in the tank on purpose, only their heads and 

 rapidly breathing gills protruding from the orifices. In a na- 

 tural state the crevices of the rocks serve as similar hiding 

 places. The conger-eel is a gluttonous fish which often attains 

 the enormous length of more than ten feet, and even in the 

 aquarium, owing to its phlegmatic habits and excellent appetite,, 

 it becomes a splendid example of the species. It is very soon 

 tamed, learns to take food from the hand of the keeper, and 

 never refuses the young of its own species. It is common in 

 the market and not dear. 



The Muraena is distinguished by the beautiful marking of 

 its body and the absence of pectoral fins. It amiably shares 

 the jars with the eels, and we often see two or three animals 

 in the same vessel , so that it is difficult to understand how 



