[Illustration: PIPE-FISH AND FLUTE MOUTH]

In our lesson on fish-nurseries we saw how the Sea-stickleback, Sand
Goby and Pipe-fish cared for their eggs or young ones. These three fish
are often to be found by the shore. As you look into the clear and still
waters of a pool you may see a Pipe-fish getting its dinner. This funny
creature looks more like a pencil swimming than a fish. It may be a foot
in length, but its body is no thicker than a pipe-stem!

[Illustration: FISHES (No. 2).
1. John Dory.
2. Rock Cod.
3. Sand Eel.
4. Small Pipe Fish.
5. Cuckoo-Wrasse.
6. Angler.
7. Whiting.
8. Gattorngine.
9. Sapphirnal Gurnard.
10. Three-bearded Rockling.
11. Red Gurnard.
12. Pipe Fish.
13. Bass.
14. Red Mullet.
15. Turbot.]

It has very long jaws. They are quite useless, however, being fastened
together! At their tip is an opening, though a very small one, and that
is the mouth of the Pipe-fish. Of course, with such a mouth, the fish
cannot bite its prey, and so has to suck in small creatures and swallow