THE PERCH FAMILY. 57 



The figures below give a representation of the scales- on 

 the lateral line of the Perch and Ruffe. 



Scale of Perch. Scale of Ruffe. 



The Perch lives long out of water (resembling in that 

 respect the Carp and Tench species), and if carried with 

 care, and occasionally moistened, will in cold weather exist 

 for several hours in this condition, not unfrequently un- 

 dergoing a journey of thirty or forty miles without serious 

 injury. Yarrell states that they are constantly exhibited 

 in the markets of Catholic countries, where doubtless 

 they are a popular article of 'fast;' and on these occa- 

 sions, when not sold, they are taken back to the ponds 

 from which they came, to be re-produced at another op- 

 portunity. 



The size to which the Perch will attain is somewhat 

 doubtful. The largest specimen that I ever remember to 

 have met with was preserved in a small inn in Perthshire. 

 It was very imperfectly stuffed, and had no doubt shrunk 

 considerably in the operation ; but the label stated that it 

 weighed 7 Ibs. when caught, and from its appearance it 

 certainly could not have weighed less than six. Perch of 

 2 and 3 Ibs. are by no means uncommon, and specimens of 



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