138 



FEESH-WATEE AQUAEIA 



about ten days. Perch, will spawn in a suitable aquarium, 

 arranging their strings of eggs among the weeds and rock- 

 work; and if the old fish are withdrawn from the tank, the 

 fry can be easily reared. The little ones, of course, should 

 be supplied with as much small aquatic animal life as 

 possible. It has been proved that Perch are unisexual; 

 they are most prolific. Mr. Frank Buckland has said that 

 he and his secretary counted 155,620 eggs in a fish which 

 weighed 31b. 2oz. ; and 127,240 in another 21b. lloz. in weight ; 

 while Mr. Yarrell records that 280,000 ova were found in a 

 fish weighing only half a pound. 



When at liberty, Perch feed upon insects, worms, and 

 fish ; and in captivity they may be fed upon garden-worms, 

 minnows, and pieces of meat. It is wise to get them to 

 partake of the last as soon as possible. Perch ought not to 

 be crowded in the aquarium, and care should be taken that 

 the water in which they live does not rise much in tempera- 

 ture. These fish are so handsome and interesting, that it is 

 quite worth the trouble and expense of providing a tank 

 especially for them. A full-grown Perch does not often 

 exceed 21b. in weight. 



The length of the head of this fish about equals the 

 depth of its body. The back rises rather suddenly, giving 

 a "high-shouldered" appearance, and the fleshy part of the 

 tail as suddenly becomes very slender. There are two 

 dorsal fins ; the front one has fourteen bony rays, developed 

 into sharp-pointed spines, and the back one (which is situ- 

 ated almost directly over the anal fin) has soft rays. The 

 colour of the back is greenish-brown, the sides are golden, 

 and the tinder part of the body is white. Six broad dark 

 gi'een stripes run vertically down the sides. The lateral 

 line is high up on the side, and foUows the curve of the 

 back. The ventral, anal, and tail fins, are bright scarlet; 

 the posterior dorsal fin is greenish, slightly tinged with 

 red. The tail fin is small, and slightly forked. The mouth 

 is large, and the teeth small and pointed backwards. 



Though a very handsome fish, the Pope or Ruffe 

 (Acerina cernua) is not so easy to keep alive in confine- 



