Class IV, PERCH. 355 



rous fpecies. Our perch was much efteemed by 

 the Romans : „ 



Nee te delict as men/arum Perca, Jilebo 



Amnigenos inter pi fees dignande marinis, Ausonius. 



It is not lefs admired at prefent as a firm and de- 

 licate fifh; and the Dutch are particularly fond of 

 it when made into a dim called Water Souchy. 



It is a gregarious fifh, and loves deep holes and 

 gentle ftreams. It is a mod voracious fifh, and 

 eager biter : if the angler meets with a fhoal of 

 them, he is fure of taking every one. 



It is a common notion that the pike will not 

 attack this fifh, being fearful of the fpiny fins 

 which the perch erects on the approach of the 

 former. This may be true in refpecl: to large fifh ; 

 but it is well known the fmall ones are the mofl 

 tempting bait that can be laid for the pike. 



The perch is a fifh very tenacious of life : we 

 have known them carried near fixty miles in dry 

 ftraw, and yet furvive the journey. 



Thefe fifh feldom grow to a large fize : we once Size. 

 heard of one that was taken in the Serpentine 

 river, Hyde-Park, that weighed nine pounds, but 

 that it is very uncommon. 



The body is deep : the fcales very rough: the Descrip. 

 back much arched : fide-line near the back. 



The irides golden : the teeth fmall, difpofed in 

 the jaws and on the roof of the mouth: the edges 



of 



