186 PERCH. 



formerly the case in England with the Pike and other fishes. 

 The Perch prefers lakes and the deeper and less rapid 

 pools of rivers, where they herd together in companies in the 

 winter; and it is probably for want of such accommodation 

 that it is not naturally an inhabitant of the extreme north 

 or west of Britain. But when the warmth of spring begins 

 to be felt it becomes more active, and passes into the more 

 rapid parts of the stream; where the angler employs his baits 

 with great success, for this fish feeds eagerly on almost every 

 animal it is able to swallow. Worms, the larva? of insects, 

 young fishes newly struggling into life, and even the smaller 

 newts and frogs, are indiscriminately devoured, and form 

 therefore successful baits for taking this fish. It will spring 

 out of the water to catch some sorts of flies; but in grappling 

 with the more formidable Sticklebacks, it sometimes suffers the 

 injury, which, under like circumstances, itself inflicts upon the 

 Pike. The formidable spines of the back and ventral fins 

 are driven into the membrane of the mouth, and cause such 

 fretting ulcerations as to lead to its destruction. It has been 

 said that from dread of these firm and piercing dorsal spines 

 the Pike, however voracious, will shrink from attacking the 

 Perch; but that it is not always thus cautious is shewn by 

 an accident recorded in the following verses, where it had 

 seized a very large Perch, after the latter had taken the 

 angler's hook. The writer, comparing this Perch to a smaller 

 one, says 



Oh, had you seen, in Ely's merry isle 

 His bulky brother which a Cyclops strook 

 With hempen cable and rough hammer'd hook; 

 Long tugg'd the brawny blacksmith at his game, 

 At last encumber'd with huge load it came, 

 Half buried in a Pike's enormous maw, 

 Its finny spears fast wedged into his jaw. 

 Scarce eight full pounds 



Angler, 1758. 



A further character of these roving companies is referred to 

 in the succeeding verses: 



Perch, like the Tartar clans, in troops remove, 

 And urged by famine or by pleasure rove. 

 But if one prisoner, as in war, you seize, 

 You'll prosper, master of the camp with ease; 

 For, like the wicked, uitalarrued they view 

 Their fellows perisb, and their path pursue. 



