MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 757 



The body from just bohiiul the head aiul the tail, wore encircled with well- 

 defined blaokish-brown bands, many of which became conlluent for a 

 short space about midcosta, presenting very much the appearance of 

 the stripes seen in zebras. The intervals were a pale bntf, and rather 

 narrower than the dark bands. The head was blackish with a few, small, 

 whitish, symmetrically disposed spots on the crown, and a larger spot on 

 the temporal region. 



This is the lirst instance of whi<:h I am aware demonstrating the vivi- 

 parous habit of the species. 



F. WALL, Lieut. -CoL., i.m.is. 

 Jhelum, 25th November 1917. 



Xu. XV 111.— NOTES ON FLIES FOR TROUT FLY 

 FISHING IN KASHMIR. 



I have been asked to write something of trout flies which may help 

 anglers in Kashmir, and 1 do so with considerable difhdence for several 

 reasons. 



The catching of trout is only one of the joys of the true angler, but 

 many are only attracted at tirst to the sport by some success obtained 

 with help from a friend and it i.s as the friend of the would-be angler 

 that I would approach the subject with as few technicalities as possible. 



Like all pursuits of the ferce naturte, success in angling calls for a good 

 deal of personal observation. Many who have never cast a line in their 

 lives may have noticed the position trout take when resting or feeding 

 in a clear stream, and maliy others may have noticed the insects that 

 creep or fly about the banks of such trout streams and even the seasons 

 in which they are commonly seen without once using the knowledge so 

 acquired. But to the true angler such observation is part of the game. 



In Kashmir the seasons very closely correspond to those in the British 

 Isles and the insects common to these seasons also closely correspond, so 

 that there is no great difficulty in the way of the British angler when he 

 pays a visit to this country, if he has his outfit with him. 



With the neophyte, however, it is different. He arrives in Kashmir and 

 and heai's that trout are many and big in some of the streams. With a 

 friend who knows perhaps a little more about it than he does himself, he 

 proceeds to Lambert's or (jluffaras shop and is promptly provided with a 

 rod and reel. Cast lines which should stand the strain of a first strike are 

 next selected and then boxes of phantoms, lures and flies are produced 

 which are all guaranteed to have been successful at some time or another. 

 With the first two, our present interest does not lie. They are made to 

 resemble small fish and to lure old cannibals or jealous young trout to 

 destruction. To do this succes.sfuily requires some skill, but the hires vary 

 little with the seasons. With flies it is different. Here in Kashmir trout 

 fishing only bea;iu8 in .April, so that some of the flies which are much valued 

 in Britain for early spring fishing, such as the purple and teal, the hare lug 

 (ear), &c., are less in demand than in England where fishing begins earlier. 

 These flies will often kill trout, but they are not the only flies about when 

 the hot sun comes out and the streams clear out here. 



Among the daintiest of the early eftemeridie — the stone fly aud creeper 

 have already been on the water for a month or more but are still much 

 appreciated. A common representation of the fly is "Greenwell's glory," an 

 artificial fly often successful all through the season. Canon Greenwell 

 after whom the fly is named is now in his 08th j'ear and still a keen fisher.* 



• Since the above was written we rei^ret to say Canon Green wells death has 

 been announced-— Ed<. 



