Catesby, Mark. Vol.II, Tab. 20 The Muray

Mark Catesby The Muray, Vol.II, Tab. 20 Etching with hand color 14" x 19" sheet From Volume II, Part 6 of Catesby's Natural History of Carolina, Florida & the Bahama Islands London: 1734 - 1771 Currently known as the green moray, Gymnothoraxfunebris*, Catesby described this subject as follows: MURAENA maculata, nigra & viridis. The Muray. The Structure of this Fish resembles that of our common Eel: The lris of the Eye white; two fleshy Barbell hang from the Nostrils; a Finn with an even white Ridge begins behind the Head and extends the whole Length of the Back. The whole Body is covered with a light gray Skin, sprinkled with inumerable black Spots. One Kind of this Fish is green and spotted same manner with black, perhaps of different Sex only. However, the Inhabitants of the Bahama-Isles will eat only the green Sort, rejecting those which are black as thinking them poisonous. It is customary and frequent for these Fish as they lye lurk ing among the hollow Rocks and Corals,