ANGLIXG ON THE BORDERS. 37 



several dozens of trout, averaging fully a pound each, 

 being taken by it by a single rod in the Tweed in one 

 day. 



About the beginning of June the creeper developes 

 into the May-fly — a name which on the borders de- 

 signates the stone-fly, and not the true May-fly or 

 green drake {Ephemera vulgata.) The creeper then, 

 after having lived solely in the water (although able 

 to live for a considerable time out of it), walks out into 

 the channel at the water- side, throws off another shell, 

 gets large brown wings, and becomes a denizen of the 

 dry land. In this state, few large trout are able to 

 resist it, as it floats down the river ; and, when care- 

 fully fished with, on any day during the short fortnight 

 or three weeks in which it is to be found, it will always 

 command a basketful of the best trouts. Using a very 

 fine line, and casting up-stream, so as to let it come 

 down to him, the angler must carefully watch it, and 

 strike pretty sharply when his line stops if the fly is 

 submerged, or allow a moment before striking if it is 

 floating on the surface, and he sees the trout take it. 

 Mr. Stewart recommends the angler with the May-fly 

 always to keep his bait under water, as he is of opi- 

 nion that trout more frequently miss taking hold when 

 it is afloat ; but we cannot say that we have observed 

 this, and it appears to us more natural that the fly 

 should be kept on the top of the water. What we take 

 to be the female fly is larger, yellower, and has bigger 

 wings than the male, the wings of which are not 

 usually longer than its body. The female is undoubt- 

 edly the more captivating to the trout, and may be 

 used singly, while it is advisable to put on two of the 



