THE PERCH. 24? 



Extreme voracity Usual weight Haunts. 



part of the sides being of a deep green, marked 

 with broad black bars pointing downwards ; the 

 belly is white, tinged with red ; the ventral fins 

 of a rich scarlet, and the anal fins and tail (which 

 is a little forked) of the same color, but rather 

 paler. 



Perch are gregarious; and, contrary to the 

 nature of nearly all fresh water fish that swim in 

 shoals, they are so voracious as to attack and 

 devour even their own species. They grow slow- 

 ly, and are seldom caught of extraordinary size. 

 The largest that was ever heard of in this coun- 

 try was caught some years ago in the Serpentine 

 river in Hyde Park ; it weighed nine pounds. 

 Another was taken in Dagenham Breach, which 

 weighed eight pounds. The usual weight is not, 

 however, more than from half a pound to two 

 pounds; and their general length is from about 

 ten to sixteen inches, which is considered large. 

 At Malham Water, not far from Settle in York- 

 shire, the perch grow to five pounds weight and 

 upwards ; and this remarkable circumstance at- 

 tends them, that the large fish are all blind of one 

 or both eyes. 



Perch are found in clear swift rivers with peb- 

 bly or gravelly bottoms, and in those of a sandy 

 or clayey soil. They seem to prefer moderately 

 deep water, and holes by the sides of or near to 

 gentle streams, where there is an eddy; the hol- 

 lows under banks, among weeds, and roots of 



trees ; the piles of bridges, or ditches and back 



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