OF GREAT BRITAIN. 93 



are known to exist in this country, the common 

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

 interest either for sport or for the table. 



The characteristics known to all the Percidce 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 the Perch. The whole length of 

 the fish, head, body, and tail-finbeing considered as i, the 

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

 3i : 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. 



