60 THE STONE FLY AND ITS CRAB. 



Artificial. In the early part of the season wind 

 a dark speckled cock's hackle round the top of the 

 hook, which must be rather large ; make the body 

 of black sheep's wool mixed with strong yellow, 

 and ribbed with waxed silk. In June use a lighter 

 hackle, with drab-coloured wool and lighter yellow, 

 ribbed with primrose silk. 



For a winged fly, you will find on the back of 

 a wild mallard a dark, brownish, spotted feather, 

 which is very suitable for the purpose ; the legs 

 a darker dun hackle, the body of black and yellow 

 wool, ribbed with waxed yellow silk. In June, the 

 lighter part of the same, or a goose's or dun hen's 

 weak feather, with a lighter hackle, and drab and 

 pale yellow wool, ribbed with primrose. The time 

 to use them is during a strong breeze, when the 

 water is rather low : when you will perceive them 

 paddling or fluttering along the surface, generally 

 early in the morning, or towards evening. Throw 

 principally on the ruffled deeps, and particularly on 

 the end of those currents where you observe they 

 abound ; for, though plentiful on the river, they 

 are not found on every one of its streams. If a 

 heavy flood should happen in their season, or full 

 water continue, they are hardly worth attending 

 to, as it either sweeps them off, or prevents their 

 appearance. 



