198 



DUSKY PEKCH. 



Serrcmus gigas, Cuvier. 



" " Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 14. 



" " Gunther; Cat. of Br. Museum, vol. i, 



p. 132. 



Holoeentrus Merou, Lacepede. Risso. 



Perca robusta, Loudon's Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. v, p. 21. 



Perca gigas, Jenyns; Manual, p. 333. 



This, which, as its scientific name implies, is among the 

 largest of the species of this family, and is not uncommon in 

 the Mediterranean, appears to have been overlooked by natu- 

 ralists until very recent times, and even yet its peculiar habits 

 have been but little examined. Risso tells us only that it 

 comes to the neighbourhood of Nice in summer and autumn. 

 It appears that the south part of the coast of Cornwall is the 

 north boundary of its wanderings, as it is of several other 

 fishes of the west portion of the Mediterranean; but even 

 there it is found but rarely, and no more than three or 

 four examples have fallen within the notice of naturalists. 

 The first of these was taken near Polperro with a line, and 

 from it our figure and description were obtained. I learn 

 from W. P. Cocks, Esq., that two others have been brought 

 into Falmouth, and one of these was presented by him to the 

 collection of the British Museum. One, if not more, has 

 been obtained at Penzance, bu,t of its habits on our coasts 

 we have nothing to report. 



At first view this fish has more the appearance of belonging 

 to the genus Labrus (the Wrass) than to the family of 

 Perches; and, in conformity with this, it is said that in 

 Spain, where it is well known, its name is the same as that 

 of the Wrass; but closer observation corrects the mistake, 

 and shews it to be possessed of the proper characters of the 



