THE PERCH. 309 



They may be taken during every month of the year 

 with the hook, being bold biters and among the most 

 voracious of all fishes, devouring the spawn and young 

 fry of their own species with savage avidity, and being 

 among the most deadly foes to the trout preserves, owing 

 to the rapacity with which they ransack the spawning 

 beds. 



They are in the main a lively and active fish, roving 

 about in small bands or shoals, sometimes swimming 

 high and near the surface, leaping merrily at the flies 

 and smaller water insects, and sometimes, especially in 

 clear, rapid scours of gravel-bedded rivers, sweeping 

 along the bottom, gathering the small, red brandling 

 worms, of which they are very fond, caddises, and other 

 water reptiles, as well the spawn of such fish as use 

 these localities. 



The larger fish will, however, often select stations, 

 such as the lee of a large stone at the tail of a ripple, 

 especially under the umbrage of trees growing on the 

 bank, or among the piles and timbers of mill-dams or 

 sluice-ways, whence they sally out like the pike or trout 

 on any passing prey with great velocity and accuracy of 

 aim. Still even these are decidedly gregarious, as one is 

 never found singly in a hole, such places being invaria- 

 bly frequented by such a band as it will liberally sup- 

 port, who rarely stray beyond its limits, and prey, for the 

 most part over the same fishing-ground, and in the same 

 course. 



