MORAY, nn?r1. Any of a large group (sub order Caloeephali. of order Amides) of eel-like fishes, especially one of the family Murmmid:e and genus _lurana. They are degenerate, aber rant eels. distinguished by their small round gill openings and the absence of pectoral fins. They inhabit warm and especially tropical seas, partieularly about coral reefs_ They are bright ly eolored. often of large size. and always vo raviuus and pugnacious. Ten or twelve genera are known, embracing about 120 species, among, which the true morays (genus _lun•mna) arc characterized by the presence of two pairs of nasal barlmles. The mun na of the or `murry' (.111mrna Helena), abounds in the Medi terranean, and is sometimes of large size, four feet or more in length, golden yellow in front and purple toward the tail, beautifully banded and mottled. Its flesh is white and highly esteemed. It prefers salt water, but eau ac
commodate itself to a fresh-water pond. The ancient Romans kept and fed it in vivaria. The story of Vedius Polito feeding his munenas with offending slaves is well known. Two species of this genus are found in American waters. The common spotted moray or 'hamlet,' the most numerous eel in the West Indies. is Lyco dontis Illririiita, and is yellowish in color, thick ly spotted and marbled with dark markings. A larger one (five to six feet) is the greenish black moray or 'morello. verde' (Lyeodontis fnnc bris), the biggest and most ferocious of the eels of the American tropics (both coasts). and one well known about the Florida reefs. The so-called 'conger eel' of California (Lycodontis mordax) is a food fish of some local impor tance. See Plate of EELS, CONGERS, AND AIORAYS.