PERCHES. 



61 



seven. The scales are rough, hard, and detached 

 with difficulty. 



The Common Perch {Perca Jluviatilis, Linn .) 

 is well known, not only to the angler, but to 

 almost every country child ; for it inhabits most 

 of our lakes and rivers, especially where the 

 banks are steep, and is so bold as to bite at nearly 

 any bait. Hence this is usually the first fish 

 that rewards the infant angler's enterprise. 



It scarcely yields to any of our native Fishes in 



beauty ; its form is compact and powerful, and 

 its colours attractive, especially when seen through 

 the clear water in wnich it is playing. Its aspect, 



