332 THE SEA SHORE . 



Its tail is long and narrow, and its snout elongated, with the under 

 jaw projecting beyond the upper. 



The nest of this species is a pear-shaped mass of soft sea weeds 

 and corallines, all bound together by a silky secretion, and sus- 

 pended to the rock in a sheltered spot. Within this the female 

 deposits her eggs in little clusters, all of which are bound together 

 and to the nest itself by the silk. If the nest is damaged while 

 occupied, it is immediately repaired, the male, it is said, taking 

 upon himself the responsibility of this task. 



Sand Smelts (family Atherinidce) resemble the true smelts 

 previously described, but may be readily distinguished by the 

 anterior dorsal fin, which is small and spinous. We have two 

 species of this family, of which Atherina presbyter is by far the 

 more common. It is a very pretty fish, about five inches long, 

 with a broad silvery stripe along each side. It is very common on 

 the sandy coasts of the south, where it also enters the brackish 

 waters of estuaries. Young anglers catch them in considerable 

 numbers by means of rod and line ; but the professional fisherman, 

 taking advantage of the fact that sand smelts swim in shoals, 

 captures them in large, round, shallow nets. The net is baited with 

 bread, crushed mussels, or offal of almost any kind, and is then 

 lowered several feet below the surface by means of a long pole, to 

 the end of which it is suspended. It is raised to the surface at short 

 intervals, and will often enclose dozens of fish in a single haul. 



The shallow waters of our southern coasts, including the 

 estuaries and harbours, are also frequented by the Grey Mullet 

 (Mugil capita), of the family Mugilidce, This fish may be distin- 

 guished from other similar species by the four stiff spines of the 

 front dorsal fin, and by the absence of a lateral line. The mouth 

 is small, and without teeth, and the mode of feeding is somewhat 

 peculiar. The food consists of worms, molluscs, and various 

 organic matter contained in the sand or mud of the bottom. It is 

 sucked into the mouth, together with more or less of the mud and 

 sand, and the former is strained through a special straining 

 apparatus situated in the pharynx. 



The Grey Mullet may be taken with rod and line, and bites 

 freely when the rag-worm is employed as bait. It is often taken 

 in the fisherman's drag net ; but, being a splendid jumper, it 

 frequently makes its escape as the net is drawn on the beach. 



Few of our littoral fishes are so well known as the Little Blen- 

 nies (family Blenniidce), which are to be found hiding amongst the 



