392 A DESCRIPTION OF 
spiny fins of the back, which this fish always erects at the 
approach of an enemy. Perch are so voracious, that it is 
said, if an expert angler find a shoal of them, he may catch 
every one. If, however, a single fish escape that has felt 
the hook, all is over ; as this fish becomes so restless, as 
soon to occasion the whole shoal to leave the place. Perch 
are so bold that they are generally the first prey caught 
by a young angler ; they will also soon learn to take 
bread thrown into the water to feed them. A large-sized 
Perch weighs about three pounds : but generally the 
Perches caught in ponds do not exceed eight or ten 
ounces in weight. 
THE CARP (Cyprinus carpio,) 
Is famous for the sweetness of its flesh, and appears often 
with greet repute on our tables, when of moderate size, 
that is, when measuring about twelve inches between the 
eye and the beginning of the tail. The scales are large, 
with a golden gloss upon a dark green ground. These 
fish grow sometimes to a great size, being then three or 
four feet in length, and contain a great quantity of fat. 
The soft roe of the Carp is esteemed a great delicacy 
among epicures. In the canals of Chantilly, formerly the 
seat of the Prince of Conde, Carps have been kept for 
above one hundred years, most of them appearing hoary 
through old age, and so tame that they answered to their 
names when the keeper called them to be fed. This fish 
