102 THE KOBIN HOOD AND BLUE-BLOW. 



and tail of fibres the colour of the legs the horns 

 or antennce to be shorter than the body of the fly, 

 but the tail a little longer. Hook, Nos. 9 and 1 0. 



No. 23. The Robin Hood. Body, blue mole's 

 fur, blood-red hackle under the shoulder ; wings, 

 light-grey mallard's feather ; tail, two fibres of the 

 same. Hook, Nos. 9 and 10. Vary this killing 

 fly by substituting a brown-red mohair body for 

 the mole's fur. 



No. 24. The blue-blow. Wings, from the tail- 

 feather of a tomtit; body, blue water-rat's or 

 monkey's fur ; legs, a fine light-blue hackle ; tail- 

 whisks, two blue hairs. Hook, Nos. 10, 11, and 12. 

 Of this fly Mr. Elaine says : e It comes on early 

 in March, and continues through April, when it 

 is succeeded by a race of flies in which the blue- 

 dun tinge predominates in various proportions. 

 It is weM therefore to be prepared with the gra- 

 dations of this fly, of which the ashy-dun appears 

 the first. In favourable days the blue-dun will 

 kill in all the fishing-hours, particularly in April, 

 but best towards mid-day. It is likewise almost 

 universal on the British waters.' 



Nothing can be more true than Mr. Elaine's 

 reasoning touching those very general and very 

 good baits, called palmers, or palmer-hackles. 

 He says : ' As they are meant to represent the 

 larvae or caterpillars of flies, as well as some of the 

 insects themselves, it is very evident that their 



