337 
^gineta, is found prescribing equally for injury inflicted by 
the spine of the Fireflair Kay, the bite of the Muraena, and 
a wound from the Sea Scorpion — perhaps the Weever. 
Scarcely anything came amiss to the appetite of this fish, 
but the Octopod or Teuthis was particularly a favourite prey, 
while the eagerness on one side, and fear on the other, were 
the occasion why in early times it was judged that there 
existed some instinctive animosity between them. The story 
of Vedius Kollio and the manner in rvhlch he fed his 
IVIurEcnse is well known. He had been himself a slave, but 
had received his freedom, and was grown so rich and high 
in the world as to count Augustus Cscsar among his friends. 
On one unfortunate occasion, however, when the emperor 
dined at his house, a slave in waiting chanced to break a 
crystal vase of great value; and, conscious of the consequence, 
he hastened to throw himself at the feet of Augustus, with 
the anxious supplication that he might not be thrown into the 
pond to be torn in pieces by the Mursen®; an entreaty which 
led to further inquiry, by which it came to be known that 
such was the ordinary fate of offenders in this household. The 
emperor was so far impartial as to order that these ponds 
should be immediately destroyed. 
And next after this, says Pliny, there sprung up an afliection 
for individual fish, which, by kind treatment and feeding, 
were taught to know their master and to come at his call. 
Martial mentions this as witnessed by himself; and it was 
told of so eminent a man as Ilortcnsius, that he shed tears 
on the occasion of the death of one of these favourites; and 
at the same villa the rvife of Drusus was pleased to fasten 
earrings, we suppose near the opening of the gills of a 
favourite Mur®na, a circumstance which attracted much attention 
from the fashionable Avorld. 
This fish is common in the Mediterranean, where it seeks 
refuge in caverns of rocks, and conceals itself, especially in the 
colder season of the year. It has many of the habits of the 
Conger, and at times has been said to quit its native element 
to come on land; a circumstance, however, which on inquiry 
Spallanzani found to be very rarely known, and only when 
urged by some necessity. It is retentive of life, but, as in the 
Conger, a smart blow on the tail effectually disables it, which 
VOL. IV. 2 X 
