108 FLIES FOR MAT. 



hackle; tail, a couple of strands of the hackle. 

 Hook, No. 11 and 12. 



No. 42. Fern-fly. This is an admirable May 

 and summer fly. It is very showy, and will 

 answer best on gloomy, sultry days. Towards 

 evening, I have been in my time very successful 

 with it, particularly close under the banks. The 

 proper-sized hook is No, 10; and when the water 

 is very low, a size smaller. The body is to be 

 made of deep brilliant-coloured orange silk, 

 whipped sparingly with fine gold wire; wings, 

 lying rather flat, to be made of the light mottled 

 fibres of a young partridge's wing-feather ; legs, 

 a turn or two of a small fiery-red hackle. Hook, 

 11 and 12. 



No. 43. The bluebottle. Body, stone-blue floss- 

 silk, tipped with gold ; wings, starling tied flat ; 

 legs, black hackle. Hook, 8, 9, and 10. 



When trout and grayling are gorged with the 

 May-fly and other day-flies, they often take freely, 

 towards evening, an imitation of the house-fly 

 and bluebottle. Such imitations kill all the 

 summer through on dark windy days. They are 

 more freely taken by chub and dace than by 

 trout. 



No. 44. The wasp-fly. I have a good opinion 

 of this fly ; for its body is well-coloured, and it 

 must prove a favourite with fish. Besides, the 

 body is large and taper ; and with its alternate 



