  We analyse the high precision HERA $F_2$ data in the low-$x$ regions,
$x<0,01$ and the very-low-$x$, $x<0.001$, regions using $\lambda$-Fits.
$\lambda$ is a measure of the rate of rise of $F_2$ defined by $F_2 \propto
(1/x)^{\lambda}$. We show that $\lambda$ determined in these two regions, at
various $Q^2$ values, is systematically smaller in the very-low-$x$ region as
compared to the low-$x$ region. We discuss some possible physical
interpretations of this effect.
