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I. FAMILY OF PERCHES. PERCIDyE. 



Representatives in British Fauna. Gen. 7. &p. 10. 



Gen. 1. PERCA. . Sp. 1. P.fiuviatilis. . The Perch. 



2. LABRAX. . 2. L. lupus. . The Common Basse. 



3. SERRANUS. . 3. S. cabrilla. . Smooth Serranus. 



4. S. gigas. . . Dusky Serranus. 



4. ACERINA. . 5. A. vulgaris. . Common Ruffe. 



5. POLYPRION. 6. P. cernium. . Couch's Polyprion. 



6. TRACHINUS. 7. T. draco. . The Great Weever. 



8. T. vipera. . The Lesser Ditto. 



7. MULLUS. . 9. M. surmuletus. Striped Mullet. 



10. M. barbatus. . Plain Red Ditto. 



The first six species are Thoracic, having the ventral 

 fins placed under the pectorals ; the next two are 

 Jugular, having the ventrals before the pectorals ; 

 the last two are abdominal. 



The Family of the Percidse derives its name from 

 the common Perch, which is regarded as its type, 

 or general representative. The species belonging to 

 it are extremely numerous, amounting, in Cuvier's 

 and Valenciennes' great work, to the number of 

 five hundred ; so that the British Fauna embraces 

 but one-fiftieth : two-thirds inhabit warmer seas, 

 and one-ninth are found in the extensive waters of 

 North America, not one of which, however, is 

 known in Europe. Their flesh is usually wholesome 

 and agreeable. In shape, their body is oblong, and 

 covered with scales, generally hard or rough ; the 

 opercle and pre-opercle are either serrated or spinous ; 

 and the jaws, vomer, and palatins are commonly 

 armed with teeth. 



