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 
Muraena 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 
