236 



GENERAL ZOOLOGY 



the body. Small particles of food are caught and held 

 until they can be swallowed. A perch may swim about 

 in a swarm of microscopic animals (Fig. 94, B) and strain 

 out enough of them to completely fill its alimentary canal. 

 For capturing larger prey, such as minnows and insects, 

 the perch's mouth is provided with sharp, backwardly 



C D 



FIG. 94. The perch, Perca flavescens. A, caught by a pickerel; B, catching 

 minute animals for food; C, egg string; D, capturing a dragon-fly nymph. 



directed teeth, which, though not used for chewing, serve 

 to prevent the escape cf wriggling animals. 



A perch is a very good swimmer and is even able to leap 

 out of the water to capture small animals. Its shape is 

 such that it can be reasonably successful in any habitat in 

 fresh water. In this respect it differs from fishes which are 

 restricted to certain situations. The basses and sunfishes, 

 for example, are fitted structurally to feed among aquatic 



