HABITS OF PERCH. 149 



louche is a lively worm. In the matter of worms, how- 

 ever, he has a choice ; he likes a middle-size worm, the 

 tail of which, by his movements, attracts his quick eye. 

 The worm when on the hook should be moved gently 

 up and down in the water, and it is generally on the 

 ascent of the worm that the perch takes it. He is also 

 especially fond of a small frog, of which specimens may be 

 here and there found along the banks by the fishermen. 

 Perca fiuviatilis is particularly fond of minnows, and 

 where minnows abound perch are always in fine con- 

 dition. Those, therefore, who have perch in their ponds 

 or lakes would increase the quality of their perch very 

 much for the table by breeding or catching minnows 

 for them. The fry of roach or dace would also be 

 acceptable. 



The young roach and dace that may be observed on 

 hot days sunning themselves after their recent escape 

 from the eg^ form a favourite food for the perch. I 

 have heard of a plan of placing several minnows in a 

 common fish globe, with muslin tied over the top, so 

 that the minnows shall not escape. The captive min- 

 nows form, when sunk in the water, a very attractive 

 lure for the perch. Perch, if you may judge fi-om their 

 biting, are very sensitive to electric changes in the 

 atmosphere. During the hot days of summer, when 

 the south wind blows, the perch is on the feed the 

 whole day. During other days he feeds much in the 

 morning, little in the evening, not at all in the day. 

 Perch differ very much in quality in respect to the soil. 

 They do not like water which is too swift. Their con- 

 formation and mode of catching food leads them to 

 delight in eddies under the piles of bridges, back streams 

 of rivers, and in quiet water at the sides below weirs. 

 They are very common in ornamental waters in private 



