pes) 
The PEARC HA, or PERCH, 
Ts a genus of fifh of the order of Thoracci; the characters: 
of thefe are, that the membrane of the gills has feven bones,, 
and the back has one or two-fins; the firft fpiny, and the fecond 
foft: the body is covered with rough {cales; the edges. of the 
gill-covers are fealy and ferrated. Linneus enumerates thirty- 
{ix {pecies; this fifh.is variegated. with black fpots. 
There is a ftrange variety of Pearch; fome of which are quite 
hunched; and the backbone, near to the tail, very much diftort-- 
ed: in colour and other refpects, it is fimilar to the common: 
kind. 
The beft time fortheir biting is betwixt {pring and fummer,. 
as at that time they are very greedy; and the angler, with good 
management, may take all that are in the hole, at one ftanding, 
if there were ever fomany.. The Pearch will bite all day long, 
ifit be cloudy; but the beft time is from eight till ten in the 
morning, and from:three till fix in the afternoon. It is very 
abftemious in the winter, and will feldom bite; if it does atall, . 
itis in the middle of the day. All fith bite beft at this time 
of the day in that feafon.. 
C'S The 
