260 FLIES AND KNOTS. 
legs. The orange dim, witli a body tinged with brown, 
would be a good imitation. 
The next natural flj, which is smaller than the last, is 
of a greenish yellow, and is also caricatured by the cow- 
dung. But it is decidedly recommended to make a more 
faithful copy, whicli the writer has done with eminent 
success. In speaking of this matter, it is important to 
add that the midges, such as the black gnat and others, ^ 
are out earlier, and it is to the larger flies alone that 
reference is made. Tlie earliest of the species mentioned 
appears in ordinary seasons about the first of March, and 
the next about a week later. At this period, and at all 
periods, of a bright day a large black gnat witli black 
hackle, black or dark blue body, silver tinsel at the tail, 
and dark wings, is usually successful. 
Shortly after the greenish fly, come many others, 
appearing almost together, and among them the cow- 
dung and the yellow sally, the latter occasionally fairly 
covering the water. About this time the professor an 
swers well, although I have never discovered its proto- 
type, if it has any, and shortly afterward an unimitated 
brown fly, together with the blue blow and cinnamon, and 
in warm weather innumerable others. In the latter part 
of April and early part of May, the bushes and streams 
are alive with the gay little beauties, of every color, size 
and shape, and the fish make them their principal food. 
But the waters are growing clear, the deception is becom- 
ing apparent to the fish's eye, and the insects, though in 
reality larger, must have more delicate substitutes. At 
sucli times a small red bodied fly, with dun wings, has 
proved extremely killing, and althougb large, white, 
