THE PERCHES. 
219 
pest for the sake of snapping np these creatures, as they are washed by the waves and beaten 
by the winds from their places of concealment among the stones. 
The flesh of the Basse is very excellent, and is thought to be in best condition when the 
fish is small, measuring about eighteen inches in length. The color of this fish is dark dusky 
blue on the back, and silvery white on the abdomen ; the fins are brown. 
The pretty little Ruffe (. Acerina cernua ) is common in many rivers, where it is some- 
times known under the name of Pope, the reason for the latter title not being very clear. 
In general appearance the Ruffe bears some resemblance to the perch, the shape of its 
body and the thorny fins being not unlike those of that handsome fish. It may, however, be 
immediately distinguished from the perch by its spotted fins, and the absence of the dark 
band over the sides. Moreover, the dorsal fin is single. It is a tolerably bold biter, and takes 
a hook readily when baited Avith a little bright-red worm. 
The color of the Ruffe is light olive-broAvn above, and silver- white on the abdomen ; the 
flanks are yellowish-brown. The back, dorsal fin, and tail, are covered with little brown spots, 
set so closely in the tail as to resemble bars, and upon the gill-covers there is a little pearly- 
green. The length of this fish seldom exceeds six or seven inches. 
One of the two creatures figured in the engraving on page 218 is the Giant Perch. It is 
a remarkably fine fish, which is found in many of the rivers and lakes of Germany and Eastern 
Europe. 
This handsome species derives its name of Lucioperca, or Pike-Perch, from the resem- 
blance which it bears to both these fishes, having the lengthened body of the one and the 
spine-armed fins of the other. It has, however, nothing to do with the pike, and is closely 
allied to its companion on the engraving, the perch, belonging, indeed, to the same family. 
The teeth are rather large, and are thought to resemble those of the pike in length and 
sharpness. 
The color of the Giant Perch is greenish-olive above, banded with brown. Below, it is 
white. It is a very fine fish, attaining, Avhen full-grown, to a length of three or four feet. 
There are several species belonging to the same genus. 
A very handsome fish, that is popularly but erroneously called the American Pike, has 
derived its name from the elongated and somewhat pike-like form of its body. The teeth, 
however, are even, and bear no resemblance to those of the real pike. 
The flesh of this fish is thought to be good for the table, and as the dimensions to which 
the creature attains are often considerable, it is really one of the valuable inhabitants of the 
American waters. It is one of the sea-loving species, and is mostly found on the Atlantic 
shores of tropical America. Many specimens now in the museums were taken in the West 
Indies, others off the coast of Guiana, some from Bahia, and others from Surinam. The gen- 
eral color of the American Pike is silvery -white, tinged on the back Avith green, and becoming 
a pure, shining Avhite on the abdomen. The dorsal fins are tAvo in number, the first being 
shortish, and having eight very strong and sharp spines. The second spine of the anal fin is 
very long and sharp, and the pragoperculum is armed with tAvo sharply-toothed edges. 
The Pike, or Pike-Perches, so called in America, are equally a European form. They 
are large carnivorous fishes, living in fresh waters. Two strongly marked species are on 
each hemisphere. 
The Wall-eyed Pike ( Stidostedium vitreum ), Dory, Glass-eye, Yellow Pike, Blue 
Pike, and Jack Salmon, are names common to this species. It is found in the Great Lakes, 
and the Upper Mississippi, and some of the Atlantic streams far north ; is an abundant and 
valuable food fish, reaching nearly three feet in length, and a weight of tiventy pounds. 
Another species, called Sanger, Sand-Pike, Gray Pike, and Horn-fish, is smaller, and is 
found in similar regions. 
The family PercidcB , the Perches, in which this fish belongs, embraces twenty-two genera, 
and from ninety to one hundred species. They are inhabitants of fresh waters of cool regions, 
most of them being American, and nearly all belonging to the fauna of the United States. A 
great majority belong to the Darters, all of which are American. They are among the most 
