OB, THE HOME-CULTURE OF FRESH-WATER PLANTS. 



complete works on our British fresh-water shells, 

 such as those of Turton and others. 



The cleansers having heen duly located to keep the 

 apartment in order, like the neokorio of the celebrated 

 temples of Greece, the fish may be introduced. 



I shall speak of Gold and Silver Pish in a separate 

 place, and commence my description of the British 

 species suited to our purpose with the Perch. (Plate 

 IV., No. 1.) He is a fine fellow, and we should take 

 care to make his acquaintance, and know some- 

 thing about him before requesting his company in 

 the little glass palace to which he is about to be 

 invited. Baron Cuvier, in his great work, has 

 chosen the common Perch as the type of his order* 

 Perca an honour to which his finely marked charac- 

 teristics fully entitle him. His distinct markings, his 

 strikingly erect dorsal fin, and fine bold movement 

 in the water, early attracted the notice of ancient as 

 well as modern naturalists, and we thus have him 

 accurately described under the name of irepmi 

 (perke) by the great Greek physiologist Aristotle. 

 He was the Perca of the Romans, as Mr. Yarrell 

 tells us in his beautiful work ; and his ancient name 

 has been but little mutilated in his modern titles. 

 Pergesa, in Italy ; Persche, in Germany ; Perche, 

 in Prance ; and more briefly Perch, in "England. 



