Green’s Dictionary of Slang

perch v.

to die.

[1607		G. Wilkins Miseries of an Enforced Marriage Act V: Die a dog’s death, be perch’d upon a tree; / Hang’d betwixt heaven and earth].
1886		Sporting Times 3 Aug. 1/3: Well, s’pose I perched first? Well, replied Pitcher, I should just come in where you were lying in your cold-meat box.