34. FOOD OF FISHES. 



Caddis-worms, Cad-bait, or Ruff-coats. 



The grubs, which are known by the name of caddis- 

 worms, case-worms, cad or cod bait, and ruff-coats, are 

 the young of flies, which are usually of considerable 

 size, with four large dull-coloured wings, lying in a 

 sluggish like manner along the back. The various 

 species are known to anglers by the name of stone 

 flies, dun-cut, granam or green-tail, alder fly, willow 

 fly, spring fly, and caddew fly; and to naturalists 

 as Phrygamdce, Leptoceridce, Philopotamidce, of which 

 above one hundred and fifty species have been found in 

 Britain. 



One of the grubs in question forms a pretty case of 

 withered leaves glued together lengthwise, but leaving 

 an opening sufficiently large for the inhabitant to put 

 out its head and shoulders when it wishes to look about 

 for food. Another employs pieces of reed cut into 

 convenient lengths, or of grass, straw, wood, &c., care- 

 fully joining and cementing each piece to its fellow, as 

 the work proceeds; and he frequently finishes the 

 whole by adding a broad piece longer than the rest to 

 shade his door-way over head, so that he may not be 

 seen by any fish above. Another of these aquatic 

 architects makes choice of the tiny shells of young fresh 

 water muscles, and snails, to form a moveable grotto* 

 and as these little shells are for the most part inhabited, 

 he keeps the poor animals close prisoners, and drags 

 them without mercy along with him. These grotto 

 building grubs are by no means uncommon in ponds ; 

 and in chalk districts, such as the country about Wool- 



