OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 83 



FAMILY I. THE PERCH TRIBE (Percida). 



This most highly organised group of the Acanthopterygian 

 or spine-firmed fishes, typified by the common Perch of our 

 freshwater ponds and rivers, is represented by five additional 

 British species, all of which, with but one exception, are in- 

 habitants of salt water. The subjoined characters may be 

 cited as common to all its members, and as serving to 

 distinguish them from other spine-finned fishes, which in 

 many points they closely resemble. The body is usually 

 of an oblong form ; the branchiostegal rays, supporting the 

 membraneous gill covers, are from five to seven in number ; 

 the anterior portion of the dorsal fin is distinctly spinous ; 

 the scales are in most instances conspicuously ctenoid or 

 pectinated, and do not extend over the surface of the 

 vertical fins as in the exotic Squamipinnes, e.g. Chcetodon ; 

 the cheeks are not protected by bony plates as in the 

 Gurnards, and there are no filamentous processes, barbels, 

 developed upon the lower jaw as pbtains among the next 

 family of the Red Mullets (Mullida). An air-bladder is 

 almost invariably present. 



The Freshwater Perch (Percafluviatilis\ No. I, relegated 

 by most ichthyologists to the first place among the members 

 of its tribe, is too familiar in form to need elaborate 

 description. Its rich ground colour of golden-brown, varie- 

 gated usually by five or six transversely-set broad bands of 

 black, and bright red ventral, anal, and caudal fins, render 

 it one of the most beautifully marked of our freshwater 

 species. With the angler it is a prime favourite, being of 

 essentially gregarious habits, and taking baits so freely as 

 to afford most excellent sport. In the famous Norfolk 

 Broads, where Perch are very abundant, and grow to large 

 dimensions, it has been observed that the fish assemble 



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