GENUS PERCA. THE PERCH. 127 



phenomenon, when the fish was confined in a glass 

 vase in a room. They spawn in April and May, 

 and feed upon insects, worms, and small fish, the 

 Minnow being a deadly bait. 



These fish thrive well both in lakes and rivers ; 

 in the latter, preferring the sides of the streams to 

 the rapid parts of the current. In Ullswater, w^here 

 nets are employed, " Myriads are procured along 

 with the weeds." (Hutchinson, 459.) — They have 

 long been celebrated for their reckless boldness and 

 extreme voracity ; whence the old saying, — 



" When braken (fern) is out of brook, 

 Bass (Perch) will bite at the bare hook." 



And the statement, That if an angler encounter a 

 shoal, he will capture every one of them. From 

 these characteristics, they often become the prey of 

 juvenile anglers. A good illustration of their bold- 

 ness is mentioned by Mr. Jesse, who found, that in 

 a few days after some had been put into his viva- 

 rium in Bushy P^rk, they came freely and took 

 worms from his hands. They will live for some 

 hours out of the water ; and will bear a journey of 

 sixty miles, as mentioned by Mr. Pennant, if care- 

 fully packed, and occasionally watered. Mr. Yar- 

 rell mentions, that they are constantly exhibited in 

 the markets of Catholic countries ; and, if not sold, 

 are returned to the ponds whence they were taken 

 in the morning, to be reproduced another day. 



The Perch is very common in temperate climes ; 

 it abounds generally in Europe, in the south of 



