5058 Tue ZooLoGist—SeEPTEMBER, 1876. 
specimens of this Murena amongst his friends, to celebrate one of 
his triumphs. 
So much for some of the ancient history of this animal. I will 
now return to its present mode of life and description. 
In the northern hemisphere Murena Helena is probably com- 
monest on the coasts of Italy and Sicily, although it frequently 
occurs throughout the Mediteiranean, and more sparingly in the 
Atlantic. I cannot find it recorded as occurring in North American 
waters; it is not mentioned in Part I. (the only one published) 
of the ‘Report of the United States Commission on Fish and 
Fisheries, 1872.’ Mr. Lowe reports it as not rare at Madeira; it 
is likewise said to be common in the Chinese and Australian 
seas. I distinctly remember seeing what I now believe to have 
been a specimen of Murena, though possibly an allied species, in 
a fisherman’s canoe at Coquimbo, on the west coast of South 
America, about three years ago. I am told it has been seen in 
the Straits of Magellan, and commonly at Ascension. 
The Murena is said to live as well in fresh water as in the sea, 
but of this I know nothing personally. Again, it has the repu- 
tation of great vitality, existing a long period out of its natural 
element: this is a well-known habit of most of the family to 
which this species gives the name Murenide. 
There seems to be a common idea that the Murena manifests a 
decided early tendency to obesity. 1 do not think this is so, for 
one specimen with which I am familiar has heen kept and well 
fed, even to daily satiety, with shrimps, mussel, and an occasional 
small wrasse of his own poaching, for the last eighteen months, 
and, although much grown, it has lost none of its symmetrical 
appearance, and is now of as finely graceful shape as when 
younger. It is stated by one author, when writing of this species, 
that its corpulency frequently becomes so great that it cannot 
dive under water, but floats, from which habit it has obtained its 
name, though I think it more probable the name is derived from 
the Greek pup, to flow, from its flowing or graceful undu- 
lations when swimming. 
This animal was early held to be an exceptionally good article 
of food; the flesh is delicately white, and very agreeable eating. 
Large quantities are offered for sale in some of the Mediterranean 
sea-ports. 
The description given below was taken generally from a dead 
