The Perch. 21 



" Abdominal Malacopterygii. Cyprinidce. 

 l Leuciscus Vulgaris. CUVIER, Regne An. t. ii. p. 275. 



Dace, FLEM. Brit. An. p. 187. sp. 63. 



" Cyprinus Leuciscus. LINNAEUS, Block, pt. iii. pi. 97. 



Dace. PENN. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 483. 



. DON. Brit. Fish, pi. 77. 



" The fin rays in number are 

 "D. 9,P*. 16, V. 9, A. 10, C. 19. 



" The colour of the upper part of the head and back dusky blue, 

 becoming paler on the sides, and white on the belly ; the irides straw 

 yellow ; cheek and gill-covers silvery white ; dorsal and caudal fins 

 pale brown ; pectoral, ventral, and anal fins almost white, tinged with 

 pale red." YARRELL, Brit. Fish, vol. i. p. 353, 4. 



V. 



THE PERCH. 

 (Called PERCA by the Romans.) 



PLATE xi. 2. 



I HE Perch is a fish of prey, having large teeth 

 in his mouth, and a hog-back on which are 

 two fins armed with sharp prickles ; his skin 

 is covered over with thick, hard, dry scales ; 

 and his body is thick and deep. When in season, which 

 is in summer, he is a beautifully-coloured and handsome 

 fish, and possesses the valuable quality of being most 

 wholesome and excellent food. He seldom grows above 

 two feet long, and spawns in February or March (Taylor 

 says in May). He takes bait best in the latter part of 

 spring, and fly in the summer months. The best time to 

 angle for him is from eight till ten in the morning and 

 from three till six in the evening, but he may be taken 

 at all times of the day. He is a very ravenous and bold 



