DESCRIPTION OF THE YELLOW PERCH. 241 



line of the back. Head sub-depressed^ and in larger and 

 older fish the rostrum is produced, causing a hollow in the 

 facial outline. The first dorsal commences above the pectorals, 

 the first ray much shorter than the second, the fourth, fifth, and 

 sixth rays are the longest, and the last the shortest — it has in 

 all thirteen rays. The second dorsal has seventeen rays, the 

 the two first spinous. The pectorals have fifteen soft rays; the 

 ventrals have one spinous and five soft rays ; the anal, two 

 spinous and eight soft; the caudal is forked, with rounded tips. 



The mouth is of moderate size ; pre~operculum strongly 

 toothed; the operculum serrated beneath, with a spine on its 

 posterior angle. The irides are golden yellow — the pupils 

 black. 



It varies in weight in different waters, from a few ounces to 

 four or five pounds. It is a bold, hardy fish — is easily trans- 

 ported from one water to another, and appears to thrive equally 

 well on all soils. 



It is taken with the worm or small fish, used either as a live 

 or dead bait, and affords very fair sport, pulling strongly on the 

 line for a few minutes, but by no means requiring the same 

 degree of skill to effect its capture. It is the favourite fish of 

 rural anglers, where Pickerel do not abound, and is esteemed a 

 great delicacy where sea-fish cannot be obtained. 



