Percidae 



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3 



America ; in Britain it inhabits eastern rivers from Durham to 

 Suffolk. Like the Eel it lurks in the day-time and at night goes 

 in pursuit of its prey. The breeding season is from January to 

 March. A specimen of 8 lbs. has been recorded from the Trent ; 

 on the Continent twice that weight is reached, and in Alaska the 

 Burbot attains 60 lbs. 



PEECIDAE. 



The Percidae are fresh-water fishes of Nortli America, Europe 

 and Northern Asia. They have two dorsal fins, the anterior long 

 and with the rays represented by strong sharply pointed spines ; 

 the pelvic fins are placed below the pectorals ; the mouth is 

 toothed, protractile, with the maxillaries excluded from the oral 

 border (fig. 1a, p. 8). 



59. Perch, Perca fluviatilis. — The Perch is a handsome fish, 

 at once distinguished by the dark bars on the sides. It inhabits 

 Europe, except the Iberian Peninsula ; extends through Transcaspia 



Fig. 23. — Ruffe. 



and Siberia, and is represented in Turkestan and in North America 

 by very similar species. In our islands it is common everywhere, 

 except in the north of Scotland, but it is not found in swift-running 

 streams. The shoals of Perch rove in search of little fishes, 

 worms, insect larvae, shellfisii, etc., on which they feed. They 

 breed on reedy shallows from ]\Iarch to May. A weight of 5 lbs. 

 is seldom exceeded, l^ut a Perch of 8 lbs. is said to have been 

 taken from the Avon, and one of 10 lbs. from Bala Lake. 



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