76 A BOOK OF THE RUNNING BROOK: 



Linnaeus described also a deformed variety of 

 perch, with the back greatly elevated and the 

 tail distorted, which he found at Fahlun, in 

 Sweden, and in other lakes in the north of 

 Europe. Specimens of these "deformed " perch 

 have also been found in Llyn Raithlyn, in 

 Merionethshire, and there is a drawing of one 

 of them in Daniel's " Rural Sports ;" but they 

 are looked upon as "accidents of nature" 

 rather than a true and distinct breed. Albino 

 perch, also, almost entirely white, have been 

 found in the waters of particular soils. 



Perch prefer lakes and the deeper and less 

 rapid pools of rivers ; a very swift current is to 

 them an abomination j and, if their lot is cast 

 in a rapid stream, they will invariably be found 

 near the bank or in backwaters. In the winter- 

 time, when floods occur, perch are driven in 

 vast numbers into any pool or eddy they can 

 find, and it is then that the largest " takes " are 

 made. Mr. Francis says that on these occasions 

 " they are pulled out not in braces, dozens, or 

 even scores, but often to the tune of hundreds. 

 I have seen and helped to catch ten dozen, and 



