There was the littoral region between tide marks with its sand-eels, pipe fishes, and blennies: the seaweed region, extending from low- water-mark to a depth of 450 feet, with its wrasses, rays, and flat fish; and the deep-sea region, from 450 feet to 1500 feet or more, with its file-fish, sharks, gurnards, cod, and sword-fish.

They are in general oviparous, or egg-producing; but there are a few, such as the eel and the blenny, which are viviparous, or produce their young alive.

The viviparous species are by no means so prolific; yet the blenny brings forth two or three hundred at a time, which commence sporting together round their parent the moment they have come into existence.

Most of the little shore-fish are either Gobies or Blennies.

[Illustration: A BUTTERFLY BLENNY] The Spotted Goby, as we have already noticed, makes a nest under a shell, and guards it until the eggs hatch.

In the Blenny family we find big, ugly fish as well as pretty little ones of strange shapes and lovely colours.

There are several kinds of small Blennies in our rock-pools.

The Eyed Blenny, or Butterfly Blenny is not very common along our shores, but may be seen now and again.

The Eyed Blenny, or Butterfly Blenny is not very common along our shores, but may be seen now and again.

It will live quite well in a glass tank of sea-water; someone who kept many interesting fish says of this Blenny: "Our little Butterfly Blenny was not often to be seen.

It will live quite well in a glass tank of sea-water; someone who kept many interesting fish says of this Blenny: "Our little Butterfly Blenny was not often to be seen.

" [Illustration: A SMOOTH BLENNY] Hidden under weed and stones is another small brownish fish of the shore, the Gunnell or Butter-fish.