Baron Cuvier on the Common Perch, 159" 



at present we extract from the second volume, which com- 

 mences with the history of the Percoides or Perch family, 

 some of the particulars regarding the Percajluviatilis, or com- 

 mon Perch. 



The common Perch, the best known of the osseous fishes of 

 Europe, is one of the most esteemed and beautiful of the fresh 

 water species. The Greeks knew this fish well, and gave it 

 the name which it still retains ; for it is evidently the 'x&oxri 

 which Aristotle describes as depositing its ova in long threads 

 like the frog among aquatic plants. This name, however, 

 has been sometimes extended to fishes which inhabit the sea 

 by Pliny, Oppian, Athenasus, and even by Aristotle himself ; 

 but Ausonius seems to have restricted it to its original signifi- 

 cation in comparing the Perch with the marine fishes. 



" Nee te delicias mensarum Perca silebo, 

 Amnigenos inter pisces dignande raarinis." 



From this period the same term, more or less altered, has 

 served to designate the common perch in most of the languages 

 of Latin or Teutonic derivation.* 



The Perch occurs in all the temperate parts of Europe and 

 in a great part of Asia. It is found from Italy to Sweden, 

 and in Great Britain it is particularly plentiful. In some 

 islands of the North Sea, however, it does not appear to be 

 met with, as it is not mentioned in the Faunas of Orkney and 

 Greenland. It is fished, according to Pallas and Georgi, over 

 all the Russian empire in Europe and Asia; in the rivers 

 which empty themselves into the polar sea, the Baltic, the 

 Black and Caspian Seas. And if the common perch exists 

 not in the North American rivers and lakes, one species is 

 there found so nearly resembling it as to be taken for a variety 

 by many naturalists. 



Lakes, rivers, and rivulets are indifferently the habitation 

 of the perch ; but it has been observed that it inclines rather 

 to rise towards the sources of rivers than to descend to their 

 outlets in the ocean, and that it avoids salt waters. It is sel- 

 dom found at a greater depth under water than from two to 



• Persega, in Italian ; Peisxe persio, in Portuguese ; Percaf persico, in 

 Spanish ; Barsck, bersig, in German ; and Perch in English. 



