24 LIST OF FLIES. 



Legged and winged with a feather from outside of wood- 

 cock's wing, and orange silk for body ; and a few fibres of 

 mohair or squirrel's fur for legs. 



18TH. BLACK FLY (or midge). Full length, about one- 

 eighth ; shape of the house fly, but rather darker, and folds 

 the wings one over the other ; are very numerous through 

 the season, among the grass, &c., being bred on land, and 

 may often come on the water ; but their diminutive size ren- 

 ders them of little use to the flyfisher. Material for imitation 

 similar to those of the house fly, but much smaller in size. 



NOTE FOR MARCH. The sudden changes of this fitful 

 month sometimes conduce to the success of the hardy fly- 

 fisher, that bides the pelting of the pitiless storm the 

 aquatic flies hatch in fine mornings in increasing numbers, but 

 if cold gusty storms come on they are benumbed and readily 

 nipped up by hungry grayling or the half-fed trout; they have 

 tasted of top food, and a natural fly on the water rarely 

 escapes them. All the browns mentioned, and the blue 

 drake, are good for this month, every day the weather will 

 allow them to hatch or come upon the waters. The needle 

 dark brown and blue dun are the hardiest, and will bear 

 cold weather the best. The red browns become most 

 numerous, and with the dark browns, are in full force, 

 hatching and breeding. The light brown and Eoyal Charlie 

 are favorite trout flies, and all new comers soon become 

 known to the fish, and their favorites should be met on 

 their first appearance, which shall be noted each month, as 

 near as observation warrants ; for the fish will naturally 

 taste the various flies that offer themselves, and feed on 

 those they like best. These flies, which are all aquatic 

 except the cow dung, form nearly all the top food of the 

 fish at this part of the season ; for the land flies and insects 

 have scarce come into being, or are so numerous as to come 

 upon the waters. They may be fished with the black, sil- 

 ver, and golden hackle, during the middle hours of the day. 



