WANDLE-WEIR AND HERON-BILL. 99 



Heron. Not a bit, he is tired of us. But how get 

 you on, Wandle-weir ? 'Tis slow work with me as 

 yet ; nothing save a few par and one satanic-looking 

 creature I took out of the last stream, having a large 

 black head and inky breast. 'Twill be made a ques- 

 tion whether it belong to the trout species or not. 

 The umpire has his doubts. 



Wandle. I have the lead of you, but not greatly. 

 However, 'tis only eleven, and the fish are just com- 

 mencing their forenoon feed. An hour or two will 

 make us better contented. Try the March-brown. 

 'Tis a late insect on this water compared with what 

 it is in England. A light hare's-ear body is also 

 commendable. 



Heron. My upper dropper is a small Limerick, with 

 blue jay feather, yellow hackle and silver twist. 



Wandle. Eidiculous ! off with it, as you value your 

 own repute. A Scotchman in this quarter would 

 laugh at you, and ask how many " puddocks " you 

 had bagged. The fal-de-rols hereabouts will achieve 

 nothing ; reserve them for August, and our intended 

 trip to the north-west ; they may answer well with 

 the sea-trout and salmon. 



Heron. Would you advise a brown palmer fly ? 



Wandle. By all means, but let it be small one 

 degree bigger than a midge. 



Heron. I have what will suit exactly. You hold a 

 good trout, or I mistake. 



Wandle. He seems a fair fish, and obstinate too ; 



