them. Its method of hunting them is strange. It stands on its head, as
it were, takes in a mouthful of water, and spurts it out at the sandy
bed of the sea. This stirs up the small living things, which are at once
swallowed by the Pipe-fish.

We have already seen how the male Pipe-fish carries his eggs in his
"pocket." Another curious thing is his suit of armour. Instead of
scales, he has hard plates all over his body. Very often you may see
young Pipe-fish among Sprats and "Whitebait" in the fishmonger's shop.

Most of the little shore-fish are either Gobies or Blennies. No doubt
they have to avoid the sharp eyes of Gulls and Cormorants, for they are
very anxious not to be seen. Some of these rock-pool fish do not mind
being out of water for hours at a time. In every way Nature has fitted
them for their life between sea and shore. They have cousins in warmer
seas which love to come ashore at times. This is how a traveller
describes one of these foreign Gobies:--

"Though they are fish, and breathe by gills, they have a passion for the
land, and during the daytime may always be seen ashore, especially where
the coast is muddy. They bask in the sun, and hunt for food, raising
themselves on their fleshy fins.... When pursued, they take great
springs, using their tails and fins for the purpose; and if they cannot
escape into the sea, they will dive down the burrow of a land-crab, or
dash into a bunch of mangrove-roots." They are very wary, having eyes
like swivels, to turn in all directions.

[Illustration: A BUTTERFLY BLENNY]

The Spotted Goby, as we have already noticed, makes a nest under a