138 History of Nature. [BooK IX. 



when the Autumn Star (Arcturus) ariseth, whereby (as is 

 evident) the Lake is troubled with a Winter Storm, there are 

 found rolling among the Waves a wonderful Number of 

 Eels, entwined one with another into a Heap, so that in 

 the Receiving-places or Traps on this River, sometimes a 

 thousand of them may be found wrapped together in a single 

 Ball. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

 Of the Murcena. 



THE Muraena spawneth at all Times of the Year, whereas 

 other Fishes shed their Spawn at one certain Season. The 

 Eggs grow very rapidly. The common People believe that 

 they creep out of the Water to the dry Land, and become 

 impregnated by Serpents. Aristotle calleth the Male or 

 Milter, Myrus. The Difference, that the Mursena is of a 

 Variety of Colours, and weak ; but the Myrus 1 is of a uniform 

 Colour, and strong, with Teeth projecting beyond his Mouth. 

 In the North Parts of Gallia all the Mursenee have on their 

 right Jaw seven Spots, distributed like the seven Stars about 

 the North Pole (Septentrio). These are of a golden Colour 

 so long as the Muraena is alive : but they are not seen after 

 it is dead. Vedius Pollio, a Roman Knight, and one of the 

 Friends of Divus Augustus, contrived Experiments of Cruelty 

 by Means of this Creature. For he caused his Slaves that 

 were condemned to die, to be thrown into the Ponds where 

 his Mursense were kept : not because the Wild Beasts of the 

 Land were not sufficient to do this, but because in any other 

 Way of Proceeding he would not have been able to view a 

 Man plucked in Pieces all at once, and at his Leisure. It is 

 said, that if they taste Vinegar they are driven to Madness. 

 They have a very thin Skin ; and, on the contrary, Eels have 

 it thick : so that Verrius writeth, that Children under seven 



1 The Myrus is a distinct species, Mur. myrus, LINN, and Cuv. The 

 Muraena was one of the petted objects of luxury of the Romans, and 

 therefore sedulously propagated in ponds. Went. Club. 



