332 THE WORLD OF THE SEA, 
from each other. These saw teeth might be supposed to be the 
teeth of the animal fixed in a prolongation of the jaw; this, 
however, is not the case, the true teeth are small plates which 
pave the interior of the mouth. With this terrible weapon the 
monster can rip open the stomachs of the whales, or make horrible 
gashes in the flanks of the seals. 
The Surgeon (Acanthurus chirurgus) and the Doctor (A canthurius 
ceruleus) are also armed with sharp blades; but these do not 
spring out of their head, but are attached to the tail; the blades 
are not long, and have some resemblance to lancets. 
Almost all fish are furnished with a means of attack or defence. 
But one—the electric-eel—has borrowed from the heavens one of 
its destructive powers, and has taken into the world of the sea a 
charge of that mysterious fluid which flashes from cloud to cloud, 
terrifying the world beneath with the loud voice of its thunder. 
The reproduction of the fish, we may almost say, is left to 
chance; this is the reason why out of such multitudes of eggs 
comparatively only a very small number of fish are hatched. At 
the season of spawning, the females, led by instinct, make for the 
shore, or for sand-banks which occupy shallow water, through 
which the rays of the sun can penetrate, and here they deposit 
their eggs; guided by the same mysterious power, the males soon 
after arrive and impregnate the ova. It is not necessary that the 
males and females should come together, or even see each other. 
The 7Z2ttlebats (Gasterostens aculeatus) are exceptions to this 
rule; and although they are not members of the ocean society, 
but live in fresh water, yet we ask permission to leave our path 
since they have left the ordinary track of fish production. When 
the male 
the proper period arrives—their St. Valentine’s day 
begins to construct a nest of vegetable fibres, artistically interlaced. 
The nest has two entrances, and when the work is completed Mr. 
Tittlebat sallies forth in search of a wife. He soon finds some belle 
of the stream, to whom, in a most unceremonious manner, he offers 
his hand and heart, for, dispensing with all unnecessary forms, he 
seizes the lady fair by her fins and drags her into the nest, escaping 
himself by the second opening. The eggs being laid, the lady 
leaves her room, and again joins the life of the stream. The 
