[ *5* 3 



THE PERCH TRIBE. 



ALL the species of Perch have jaws that are un- 

 equal in length, armed with sharp-pointed and in- 

 curved teeth. The gill-membrane has seven rays j 

 and its cover consists of three plates, the uppermost 

 of which is serrated. The scales that cover the 

 body are hard and rough. The first dorsal fin is 

 spinous, and the second (except in a single species) 

 is soft. 



THE COMMON PERCH*. 



These 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 slowly, and arc 

 seldom caught of extraordinary size. The largest 

 that was ever heard of in this country was caught 

 some years ago in the Serpentine River in Hyde 

 Park : it weighed nine pounds. The usual weight 

 is not, however, more than from half a pound to 

 two pounds. 



They are found in clear swift rivers with pebbly 

 or gravelly bottoms, and in those of a sandy or; 

 clayey soil. They seem to prefer moderately deep 



* Synonyms. — Perca fluviatilis. Linn.— Perch. IVill.—Penn. Brit, 

 Zool. vol. 3. tab. 4.S. 



