50 THE FOUR-WINGED BROWN FLY. 



they are fixed low down the back, and when it is 

 flying, or fluttering along the surface of the water, 

 which it frequently does, the four wings are distinctly 

 visible. It has two long horns, or feelers, six legs, 

 and the lower part of the body is nearly the size of 

 the upper portion, and does not run taper. At its 

 first appearance the body and legs are of a dull 

 black ; as the weather becomes warmer, the under 

 part of the tail changes to a dirty tawny, and the 

 legs to an ash colour. Towards the end of March, 

 and in April, the body is of a brownish black, 

 and the legs and under part of the tail of a dirty 

 yellow. It becomes dark if a frost occur, and 

 light if the weather continues mild. The wings do 

 not vary. 



In January, February, and till near the end of 

 March, the red fly is on the water from about 

 eleven o'clock till three ; after that, until about 

 the 24th April, which is the latest period at which 

 we have ever seen it, it appears as early as eight 

 o'clock, and continues till near mid-day. In Fe- 

 bruary, a lump of whitish eggs protrudes from the 

 end of the tail : the middle of that month until the 

 end of March is the season when these flies are 

 most numerous, after which we have frequently seen 

 small ones very dark. It abounds more on those 

 rivers or brooks whose banks are woody, than else- 

 where. 



Directions for making the artificial fly. We 

 always hackle it or make it as a ruff, like all the 



