The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-09
THE GREEN MOR1Y
Many Visitors Mt tho Aquarium to SEQ the
Junior Sea SERPENT

Many Visitors Mt tho Aquarium to SEQ the
Junior Sea Serpent.
The green moray. news OF whose arrival at
the Aquarium from Bermuda was duly printed
In THE Sun. was seen last week by many Wis.,
TORS including some who were passengers by
the steamer on which It was brought. They
had been interested In II on shpboard. and
desired to see 1t In its new quarters The great
eel began to eat on the day Of its arrival and il
now eating daily about a pound and half OF
Goldfish. which is cut up into strips and handed
down to 1t on the end OF a stick. It takes this
daily supply at single meal and appears to
like 1t. The moray has improved in appear
ance and condition since its arrival
This specimen OF the green moray ia about
seven feet in length and not less than two feet
In circumference at the largest part OF its body
Its dorsal fin extends the whole length OF Tvs
body. from the head to the tail, and when this
is raised II makes the big eel look still bigger
This fin waves along its length with sort of
corkscrew motion when the moray Is moving
The green moray is a voracious creature ard
very swift and powerful swimmer. 1t can over
take practically any fish it starts in pursuit Of
II the flsh should escape and seek refuge in
some nook or crevice OF tho coral reefs, the
moray might still start 1t out from there by
means OF its sharp. pointed snout.
Though only seven feet In length the green
moray has the appearance OF a veritable sea
serpent. and it is commonly spoken OF as such
by visitors who look at it, To many 1t seems
more or less familiar. perhaps so to tho ma
Jority. from Its resemblance in a general way
to the many cuts Of sea sorpents that have
been printed. The green morays head has
been likened to that of horse and the resem-
blance may be heightened ii one catches n
glimpse OF 1t from the rear. Then the dorsal
fin. spreading back from the centre line OF the
CURES hut little stretch eS Of the fu to
see in tho gill openings the horses ears.
There are two or three low rocks in the bot
surface, has q slight incline toward tho front Of
the tank. The moray, rests. it may be. about
tho l. I of this rock. The great cells body
Ie m,t "rT G up over TIE rear edge Of the
hs ssh hs OF i the
hans. better brace or hold From the front
edge i rears the forward half OF its body
bending forward and. It may be. downward at
the upper end. This is the sea serpent attitude
surface. even to that extent. the head and body
OF such moray even this one. with dstended
mane or do % nm Hlmost any length OF body
morays at least twelve feet in, length. The
ever position it does TAX. tAcre is about 1t al
ways n suggestion Of great power.
peculiar. Its head. somewhat bockke at the
base, runs down almost to a point at the tip ::
It's mouth is large: the gill openings we'll
back on the head on either side are not nearly
equal in size to the capacity OF the mouth The
moray opens its Jaws wideIsome OF its teeth
are seen to hook inward like the sharks
and takes in a great mouthful Of water.
Its JAWS spread apart laterally at the base.
indicating that It could take in proper
and likewise its fiabby loose throat
or under Jaw, as II closes Its mouth on all the
water 1t will hold. As the water thus taken in is
expelled through the gill openings. the dis
der jaw gradually collapse, Then the green
moray opens its mouth and takes in another
mouthful.
The green moray Is in one OF the large wall
salt water side. Almost oyer It, In a tank on
the gallery tier. there are four spotted morays.
including one brought from Bermuda with the
big green moray; the other three which in
about two feet and half IN length. came from
Bermuda last year. The spotted morays
breathe in the same manner as the green
moray. The spotted moray's head suggests the
head OF a little fox.
This green moray has upon the right side OF
its head a very curious mark ing. which at a
casual glance mig hit be taken for sewed-up
wound 1t extends for some inches in a straight
line from near the end OF the snout. back
ancc OF a uniform herrinGbone stitching, in
regular, zgzag lines, like tine teeth Of a saw.
1t was jocularly suggested that the big green
moray might have cut cash in the side OF It's
head on some sharp projecting niiece Of coral
waters had sewed up the wound with the pre-
cision Of stitch displayed. but there is no scar
or wound there. This herrinRbone stitch Just
runs along the side Of the moray's head. Just
lar and interesting marking. but one whose
cause is not yet known.