835 
MUR^NA. 
The body lengthened, tapering behind; dorsal and anal fins uniting 
to form the tail; no pectoral fins;- gill opening a small aperture on 
each side; barbs on the snout. 
MUR^NA. 
Murcena, Jonsion; Table 5, f. 4. 
“ Willoughby; p. 103, Table G 1. 
Murcena Helena, Linnaeus. Ouviek. Bloch; pi. 153. 
“ “ Yakrell; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 406. 
The principal interest -which among us attaches itself to the 
Muriena is derived from the manner in which it was regarded 
by the ancient Romans, who, whether they viewed it as a 
delicacy for the table or as an object of amusement, and 
even of aflpection, are recorded to have carried their estimation 
of it to such an extent that Cicero felt himself warranted in 
saying that they paid more attention to these fish than to 
the interests of their country. Indeed the tales that are told 
of the manner in which the Mursense were treated, and the 
expense employed in pampering them, could be rendered 
probable only by what we know of the force of fashion, and 
the reports handed down to us of the wide-spread pro- 
fligacy and idle craving for amusement which had superseded 
the foi mer characteristics of the Roman nobles, whose enormous 
wealth was formed of the plunder of the whole known world. 
W e deiive a chief portion of our knowledge of these particulars 
from the “Natural History” of Pliny, who says that C. Hirius 
was the first who formed preserve-ponds for these fish, which, 
however, were not kept for sale; for on the occasion of a 
triumphal banquet given by Julius Caesar, when he supplied 
six thousand of these Murasnae to the feast, he gave it to be 
