94 COMMON PERCH. 



known fish in the southern lakes and rivers. It 

 reaches to the north perhaps not farther than some 

 lochs in Ross-shire, and to them it has most pro- 

 bably at some period been transported. 



In the shape of the Perch, we find that combi- 

 nation of length, depth, and thickness, which will 

 give the easiest support in, and the least resistance 

 when passing through the water. While the fins 

 possess great power, the swimming or air-bladder is 

 of great size, and the scaling or outward covering 

 is compact, hard, and not awkwardly large. In 

 colouring it is extremely beautiful, the upper 

 parts of a rich olive green, shading into golden 

 yellow ; the body banded with distinct bars of a 

 deeper tint ; and the whole relieved by the deep 

 velvety black of the posterior part of the dorsal 

 fin, and the brilliant vermilion of the ventral and 

 anal fins. For defence, the strong spines of the 

 Qorsal fin, which are erected and held fixed with 

 extraordinary muscular power upon the appear- 

 ance of any danger, are admirably fitted, and it 

 is one of the few fishes which is able to frequent 

 waters in common with the Pike. A variety of 

 the Perch is mentioned by M. Jurine, where all 

 the colours are of a paler tint ; the fins of a pale 

 yellow, without any of their usual brilliant ver- 

 milion. Another, which Cuvier thinks may even- 

 tually resolve itself into a variety, is the fish 

 which he has given under the title of Perca 



