186 
PERCH. 
formerly the case in England with the Pike and other fishes. 
The Perch prefers lakes and the deeper and less rapid 
pools of rivers, where they herd together in companies in the 
winter; and it is probably for want of such accommodation 
that it is not naturally an inhabitant of the extreme north 
or west of Britain. But when the warmth of spring begins 
to be felt it becomes more active, and passes into the more 
rapid parts of the stream; where the angler employs his baits 
with great success, for this fish feeds eagerly on almost every 
animal it is able to swallow. Worms, the larvee of insects, 
young fishes newly struggling into life, and even the smaller 
newts and frogs, are indiscriminately devoured, and form 
therefore successful baits for taking this fish. It will spring 
out of the water to catch some sorts of fl.ies; but in grappling 
with the more formidable Sticklebacks, it sometimes suffers the 
injury, which, under like circumstances, itself iirflicts upon the 
Pike. The formidable spines of the back and ventral fins 
are driven into the membrane of the mouth, and cause such 
fretting ulcerations as to lead to its destruction. It has been 
said that from dread of these firm and piercing dorsal spines 
the Pike, however voracious, will shrunk from attacking the 
Perch; but that it is not always thus cautious is shewn by 
an accident recorded in the following verses, where it had 
_ seized a very large Perch, after the latter had taken the 
angler’s hook. The writer, comparing this Perch to a smaller 
one, says — 
Oh, had you seen, in Ely’s merry isle 
His bulky brother which a Cyclops strook 
With hempen cable and rough hammer’d hook; 
Long tugg’d the brawny blacksmith at his game. 
At last encumber’d with huge load it came. 
Half buried in a Pike’s enormous maw. 
Its finny spears fast wedged into bis jaw. 
Scarce eight fall pounds — 
Angler, 1758. 
A further character of these roving companies is referred to 
in the succeeding verses: — 
Perch, like the Tartar clans, in troops remove, 
And urged by famine or by pleasure rove. 
But if one prisoner, as in war, you seize. 
You’ll prosper, master of the camp with ease; 
Por, like the wicked, unalarmed they view 
Their fellows perish, and their path pursue. 
