CHAPTER V. 



PERCH. 



r all British freshwater fishes the 

 perch is perhaps the most widely 

 distributed. In nearly all the ponds 

 and rivers of England and Ireland 

 he is to be found, and in some of the 

 waters in the South of Scotland. Further north 

 he becomes rare. It is hard to ascribe a reason 

 for the perch's dislike to Scotland j it cannot be 

 the cold climate, as perch are found in Scan- 

 dinavia and even in Lapland. 



For two reasons the perch is worth cultiva- 

 tion. He affords excellent sport, as all Thames, 

 Kennet, and Waveney anglers will acknow- 

 ledge ; and what would riparian haunts be 

 without the edible charms of Perca fluviatilis ? 

 Other charms he has, too, for he is one of the 

 most beautiful fish in our islands. Frank 

 Buckland says of the perch that " No lady's 



