THE BLUE DUN. 51 



other four-winged flies whose wings lie along their 

 back ; for, when floating upon the water, they 

 make that appearance. The following imitation 

 will succeed, even when the blue dun and March 

 brown are strong on. Take a weak light and 

 yellowish brown dun hen's feather, either from 

 the neck, or any part of the body ; wind two or 

 three times close together, a little below the top of 

 the shank of the hook, and make the body clear 

 below it, of a mixture of ruddy black sheep's wool, 

 mingled with orange ; use yellow silk, and rib up 

 the body with it. Finish close to the feather, 

 with two half hitches. Of course make the mix- 

 ture, lighter or darker, according to the season, 

 remembering that the black wool shows very pow- 

 erfully when wet, and allow for it in mixing. The 

 size of the fly will point out to you the size of the 

 hook ; you may, indeed, make it rather larger than 

 nature, as at this season of the year the water is 

 generally pretty full, and the weather rough. 



THE BLUE DUN, 



SEASON. The middle of February to the middle of April, 

 and likewise again in October. 



Natural. Has two wings, which are upright on 



the back, like the butterfly's ; these, when it first 



appears in February, are of a smoky blue colour. 



The head, with its two short feelers, or horns, are 



E 2 



