185 



PERCA. 



The body compressed, rather deep, covered with firmly-fixed scales. 

 First gill-cover with a serrated edge, on the second a spine. Jaws 

 and roof of the mouth with numerous fine and slender teeth. 

 Two separate dorsal fins, the first with spinous rays. These fishes, 

 and several of the following genera, separated for conveniency from 

 the original genus Perca as constituted by Linnaeus, are what that 

 author named thoracic fishes, because their ventral fins are placed 

 below the pectorals. 



PERCH. 



Perca major, Jonston; TituI, 3, C. 1. 



Pearch, Izaac Walton's Angler. 



WlLLOUGHBY; p. 291, Tab. S. 13. 



Perca fluviatilis, Linnaeus and Cuvier. Blocii ; pi. 62. 



" " Guntuer's Cat. of Br. Museum, vol. i, p. 58. 



" " Fleming; British Animals, p. 212. 



" " Jenyns ; Manual, p. 330. 



" " Yarrell; British Fishes, vol. i, p. 1. 



La Perseqiie Perche, Lacepede. 



The Perch is one of our best-known river fish, and is 

 generally distributed over the kingdom; but it is with some 

 exceptions, for it is not found in Scotland north of the 

 Forth, except where it has been introduced, and it is not a 

 native of Cornwall, although it has been conveyed thither 

 within the present (nineteenth) century, and in the few places 

 where it is known it thrives welL This fish, indeed, is capable 

 of living out of water for a considerable time under favourable 

 circumstances, and has been known to have been carried 

 without injury a distance of forty miles, enclosed in wetted 

 moss. It is said to be a custom in some parts of Germany, 

 to carry this fish alive to market, and if not sold, to return 

 it to its native element for another opportunity, as was 



