66 ACANTHOPTERYGII. PERCAD^. 



poor fish floats a few days on the surface, drag- 

 ging out a miserable existence, until death puts 

 a period to its sufferings. If, however, the blad- 

 der be pierced when in this state, the contained 

 air escapes, the viscera recover their proper posi- 

 tion, and the fish is saved.* 



The Perch spawns at the age of three years, 

 when it is about six inches in length ; the month 

 of April is the season for this operation if the 

 water be moderately shallow ; but in deep water 

 the spawning is later. In a Perch of two pounds 

 the roe w^eighs seven or eight ounces, and con- 

 tains, according to Harmers, 281,000 eggs, but 

 according to Picot, nearly a million ; the number 

 varying according to the age of the fish. Large 

 and old fishes contain more ova than the smaller 

 ones, which is not surprising, since the indivi- 

 dual eggs are of the same size in both ; they are 

 very minute, and have been compared to poppy 

 seeds, f 



The Perch, when seen alive in a clear stream, 

 is, as we have said, a beautiful fish. Perhaps 

 the elevation of its back m^ay be thought to de- 

 tract from its elegance of form, giving it a humped 

 appearance. The back rises somewhat abruptly 

 just behind the head, after which it tapers to the 

 tail : the height of the body, independent of the 

 fins, is about twice that of the width. The 

 general hue of the upper parts is a rich olive, 

 crossed by five or six dark brown bands, which 

 become inconspicuous after death. The sides have 

 a brassy tinge, with pearly and steel-blue reflections 

 about the cheeks ; the under parts are pure silvery 

 white. The two dorsal fins, and the pectorals take 



* Cuv. et Val. Hist, des Poissons, f Cuv. et Val. ii. 25. 



