72 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 
minutely between the various unnatural imitations of 
natural flies, whether in form or tint; (5) and render it 
doubly important that the imitation insect should be as 
characteristic and “ fly-like” as possible in shape, lest the 
fish should fail to perceive the resemblance altogether. 
6. General shape, general colour, and size, are all that 
can be distinguished by the fish. These are the points, 
therefore, to be kept in view in the construction of arti- 
ficial Trout-flies. 
The next step is to reduce these propositions to prac- 
tice; and the argument seems naturally to take some- 
what the following form :—If when presented to them in 
the only manner in which we can present them, nice 
varieties of imitations, and shades of shape and colour 
cannot be distinguished by Trout, the great mass of 
flies now used are obviously unnecessary, and where 
either the colour or outline is confused, are mischievous. 
It would be better on every ground to select two or 
three of the most favourite and distinctive families of 
flies, and imitate them only ; not in their varieties, or 
even species, but, as it were, in their types,—and using 
those colours only which represent the prevailing tints 
in the selected families. What, then, are the most 
favourite families of flies—most favourite, that is, in the 
eyes of the Trout ? Without question the Ephemeride 
and Phryganide,—and for a very good reason, as with 
hardly an exception they are all bred in the beds, banks, 
