258 FLIES AND KNOTS. 
fisherman has noticed flies at one time that he may not 
see again for a WKg period, and has found his imitations 
of them perfectly useless. 
The first tree that puts forth leaves in the spring is the 
maple, and its buds are a bright scarlet. As they drop 
into and are swept along the surface of the water by the 
wind, the fish seize them, no doubt either decoyed by 
their appearance or attracted by insects that may be con- 
cealed upon or within them. The scarlet ibis resembles 
these buds nearer than any other known thing, and is 
probably mistaken by the fish for them. 
When commencing this work, it had been my inten- 
tion not only to describe the artificial flies in general 
request, but to give the habits, periods and names of the 
natural ones of which they were imitations, without 
which latter information the former would have been far 
from complete. But the obstacles in my way were so 
numerous, tlie confusion existing as to names, localities, 
and times of appearance was so utter, tlie difilculty of 
finding any satisfactory work on the natural insects so 
great, that I was almost in despair ; on the point, how- 
ever, of making the attempt, rash as it appeared, I was 
informed that the matter had been undertaken by a friend 
of mine, who is every way equal to the task. Although 
much relieved, there was still something to be done to 
give a general idea of the flies in use with us. On this 
subject, the only work existing of any value is the sup- 
plement to Frank Forester's " Fish and Fishing," written 
by a gentleman who is a thorough sportsman, and along- 
side of whom I have often had the pleasure of casting 
the fly. The directions in the body of that work itself, 
