THE PBRCH. 155 



brown colour, as are also the pectoral fins. The ventral, anal, and 

 caudal fins are of a bright red colour, each of the former two 

 being armed with a sharp spine. 



The perch is a very general fish not only in this country, but 

 throughout the whole of the European continent, as also in 

 Siberia and the Northern parts of Asia. Walton describes this 

 fish as a very good, and a very bold biting fish ; and with his usual 

 judgment and accuracy, did he say so, there being few fresh 

 water fish that equal him in flavour, whilst in courage he stands 

 unrivalled ; and unlike the wary trout and timid chub, that fly off 

 to their hovers, on the approach of the slightest shadow of any 

 thing in the shape of a human being, the perch will unhesitatingly 

 seize on the bait even at the very feet of the most bungling practi- 

 tioner of the art, who standing at the very water's edge has scared 

 away the very gudgeons in terror to their hiding place. And bite 

 away the perch will, one after another, each heedless of his 

 companion's fate whom he sees carried forcibly away before his 

 very eyes, and like the wicked of the world, each rushes madly 

 onward, to meet destruction, till perhaps every one of the shoal are 

 taken. I have myself caught as many as three dozen at one single 

 standing, and doubtless an abler hand would have taken many 

 more ; for this I have observed as almost an invariable rule, that 

 although the perch will continue to bite away as boldly as ever, 

 heedless of the fate of their companions whom one after another 

 they see disappear from their presence in so mysterious a manner, 

 yet if you but chance to let one feel the smart of the hook, who 

 afterwards effects his escape, the sport is all over at that station 

 for the time. The manner in which a perch makes his comrades 

 aware of the danger he has escaped from, as well as their own 

 peril, is truly surprising ; no sooner does the fish break away, 

 than he rushes for a few seconds wildly about, as if overcome with 

 surprize at the previous occurrence : and then he runs in among 

 his companions, approaching first one, and then the other, till the 

 whole company, as if by universal consent, draw themselves to- 

 gether and sheer off from the spot ; or if they continue to remain 

 there, can seldom or ever afterwards be prevailed upon to touch 

 the bait. 



The great voracity of the perch, added to his extreme boldness, 

 has caused this fish to become exceedingly scarce in some waters 

 that formerly abounded with them ; and in the greater number of 



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