THE PERCH. 309 
They may be taken during every month of the year 
with the hook, being bold biters and among the most 
voracious of all fishes, devouring the spawn and young 
fry of their own species with savage avidity, and being 
among the most deadly foes to the trout preserves, owing 
to the rapacity with which they ransack the spawning 
beds. 
They are in the main a lively and active fish, roving 
about in small bands or shoals, sometimes swimming 
high and near the surface, leaping merrily at the flies 
and smaller water insects, and sometimes, especially in 
clear, rapid scours of grayel-bedded rivers, sweeping 
along the bottom, gathering the small, red brandling 
worms, of which they are very fond, caddises, and other 
water reptiles, as well the spawn of such fish as use 
these localities. : 
The larger fish will, however, often select stations, 
-such as the lee of a large stone at the tail of a ripple, 
especially under the umbrage of trees growing on the 
bank, or among the piles and timbers of mill-dams or 
sluice-ways, whence they sally out like the pike or trout 
on any passing prey with great velocity and accuracy of 
aim. Still even these are decidedly gregarious, as one is 
never found singly in a hole, such places being invaria- 
bly frequented by such a band as it will liberally sup- 
port, who rarely stray beyond its limits, and prey, for the 
most part over the same fishing-ground, and in the same 
course. 
