151 



THE RUFFE. 



Acerina cernua. 



PLATE XXVI. 



Perca cernua, Linnmis.^The Ruffe, Pennant, Donovan. 

 — La Gremille commune, Acerina vulgaris, Cuv. et 

 Valen. Hist. Nat. des Poissons, iii. p. 4. 



D. 14.12; p. 13; V. 1.5; A. 2.5; C. 17. 



With this beautiful little fish Cuvier com- 

 mences his division of the " Percoid fishes," 

 having a single dorsal fin, but with seven rays to 

 the gill covers, and where the teeth are all equal. 

 His first genus is Acerina, which diflTers from any 

 of the preceding ones by the cavities in the bones 

 of the cheeks and jaws. They all inhabit the 

 fresh waters, and that now represented may be 

 held as typical ; and, being a native of Britain, 

 and abundantly dispersed over the lakes and 

 rivers of northern Europe, will not be difficult to 

 procure for examination. 



The Rufie is found in several of the English 

 streams, — the Gare in Norfolk, the Birny in 

 Merionethshire ; and though not attaining a size 

 above five or six inches, is much esteemed for 



