AFFINITIES OF THE PERCH 45 
in conformity with it ; but the stripes, spined fins, and other 
characteristics of the family are easily recognised under the 
modifications. 
In North America the place filled in the British angler’s 
esteem by the common perch is occupied by a nearly related 
genus, the black bass (Labrax).*  Percichthus, differing from 
Perca chiefly in the number of spines, is a genus comprising 
the fresh-water perches of South America. The Nile and 
other African rivers nourish a great perch, known to science 
as Lates niloticus ; while Lates calcarifer, the perch of the 
Ganges and other Indian waters, is indeed a formidable fellow, 
sometimes attaining the length of five feet. This fish, which 
is held in high gastronomic esteem, has developed the 
anadromous habit ; that is, it resorts alternately to fresh and 
salt water. Our own perch show a slight tendency in that 
direction ; those of the Norfolk Broads entering brackish water, 
where, it is said, their flesh acquires a superior flavour from 
a diet of shrimps. The Indian perch, called ‘“‘ Cockup”’ by the 
inhabitants of Calcutta, who greatly appreciate its excellence as 
food, extends as far as the waters of Queensland ; but in 
Australia a third species of Laves takes its place (L. colonorum) ; 
and in South Australia we first come across a valuable food fish 
of the Perch Family, the Murray River cod (Oligorus nacquari- 
ensis), famous for its excellent flesh and huge proportions. It 
sometimes weighs nearly 100 lb., and gives good sport to anglers. 
But these must not be fastidious in their art, nor scorn such 
tackle as will carry the most successful bait, which is said to 
be half a pound of raw mutton. A seafaring relative of this 
great perch, Oligorus gigas—the “Hapuku” of the Maoris— 
which frequents the coast and reaches of New Zealand, has been 
taken weighing as much as three or four hundredweight. 
One of the coral fishes, so called because they haunt the 
coral reefs of tropical seas, is a highly-developed perch (Apogon 
frenatus). It is brilliantly coloured, and we may trace in its 
* Placed by American naturalists in a separate genus, AZicropterus. 
