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A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SFAS 



homes, the male as usual undertaking the responsibility 

 for the family's safe development. 



The Butter Fish, or Gunnel (Pbolis), usually selects 

 an oyster shell, the Butterfly Blenny {Bknnius ocellaris) 

 that of some larger univalve, whilst the Common Blenny 

 (Bknnius pholis) may even make shift with a hole in a wooden 



Butter Fish and eggs in oyster shell 



breakwater. In all such cases the male mounts guard, 

 blocking the doorway with his large head and intimidating 

 all comers with a ferocious display of distended fins and 

 inflated gill covers. The Common Sand Goby (Gobius 

 minutus) goes a step further. Deliberately turning over 

 some discarded bivalve shell so that the concave side is 

 downwards and then, worming his way beneath it, he 

 hollows out a small chamber having one tubular connection 



