THE PURPLE, OR IRON BLUE FLY. 57 



Artificial. When they are flying, their wings ap- 

 pear of a light dun, and their body dark ; and for 

 that reason we always make them with a light yel- 

 lowish dun hen's hackle, round the top of the hook, 

 and the body of dark fur, with yellow tips from a 

 hare's ear, tied on with green silk, which should 

 be seen at the tail. Or thus: wings from those of a 

 hen pheasant, where you perceive the colour an- 

 swers ; two turns of a small light ginger hackle for 

 legs ; a little mole's fur for body, with a tail of the 

 green silk. 



THE PURPLE, OR IRON BLUE FLY. 

 SEASON. April and May. 



Natural. In shape resembling the blue dun, but 

 much smaller. The wings a clear purple, the body 

 a reddish dark purple, legs almost white, and two 

 whisks at the tail. They begin to, appear early in 

 April, but towards the end of the month, and about 

 the middle of May, is their greatest season. They 

 are never seen in any considerable numbers but in 

 cloudy, showery days, when the fish take them 

 more freely than any of the other flies on the water 

 at the same time. From about ten till three or 

 four o'clock, is their usual time of appearing, and, 

 being a small fly, they are most numerous in the 

 middle of the day. 



Artificial. Make them with a dark blue dun 

 hackle, ' and use reddish purple silk only for the 

 body. As winged flies, use a hen blackbird's wing 



