PERCH. 



47 



PERCH. 



THE Perch is an inhabitant of clear rivers and 

 lakes, and is to be found in all parts of Eng- 

 land ; its general length, when full grown, is 

 from twelve to eighteen inches, and weighs from 

 two to four pounds. The colour of the Perch 

 is brownish olive, sometimes accompanied by a 

 slight gilded tinge on the sides, and commonly 

 marked with five or six moderately broad, black- 

 ish transverse bars ; the dorsal fin is of a pale 

 violet brown, the rest of the fins, and the tail, 

 are red. Sometimes this fish varies in colour, 

 the olive assuming a richer cast of gilded green, 

 the dusky bars appearing more numerous, and 

 of a bluish black. 



The Perch is fond of frequenting deep holes 

 in rivers which flow with a gentle current ; it is 

 extremely voracious, and eagerly takes a bait; 

 it is so tenacious of life, that it may be carried 

 to the distance of sixty miles, in dry straw, and 



