OF GREAT BRITAIN. 93 



are known to exist in this country, the common 

 Perch, and the Ruffe or Pope ; the latter of Httle 

 interest either for sport or for the table. 



The characteristics known to all the Percida are : — Fin- 

 rays partly spinous and partly flexible. Body oblong, and 

 covered with hard or rough scales. Bones of the gill-covers 

 variously armed at the edges with notches or spinous points. 

 Most of the species composing this family have the ventral fins 

 under the pectoral. 



Principal Characteristics of tlic Perch. — The whole length of 

 the fish, — head, body, and tail-fin— being considered as i, the 

 length of the head alone, to the point of the gill-cover, is about 

 3A : depth of body at the deepest point as nearly as possible 

 equal to length of head ; nape of neck and shoulder rising 

 very abruptly, giving a general appearance of the fish being 

 rather " hog-backed ;" belly-line less convex. Fleshy portion 

 of tail very slender. Tail-fin rather small. Two back-fins, the 

 first supported by strong pointed bony rays fourteen in number ; 

 the second back-fin having sixteen soft rays, and commencing 

 very nearly over the anal fin : the commencement of the first 

 dorsal, pectoral, and ventral fins, very nearly in a line, slanting 

 slightly backwards towards the belly; and the pectoral-fin com- 

 mencing a very little more forward than the point of gill-cover. 

 Colour : muzzle dark brownish green ; irides, cheeks, and gill- 

 covers, a greenish bronze ; pectoral-fins nearly yellow of a 

 lightish tint ; pectoral, anal, and tail fins, brilliant scarlet ; 

 second back-fin greenish, with a slight tinge of scarlet or orange. 

 Back dark olive green, becoming nearly brown in large speci- 

 mens ; sides golden yellow marked with dark transverse bars of 

 a greenish colour : belly from muzzle to tail quite white. Scales 

 in lateral line about sixty-six. Lateral line convex. 



