74 LIST OF FLIES. 



length, a quarter ; wings not so much, which are of a clear 

 inky tinge, and fold over the back like those of the blue 

 gnat; body black, more cylindrical and rather longer; 

 shoulders a bright Japan black ; legs black. Out all day 

 to near the end of the season. 



Body, black silk ; wings and legs a neck feather from the 

 cock-pheasant or starling. 



NOTE. The empress declines, and the needle yellow and 

 orange brown are all that remain of her kindred. The 

 needle and yellows are hatching and on the water daily in 

 great numbers ; the orange are not so numerous, but are 

 rarely refused by the trout. All the various sized drakes 

 for small flyfishing the checkwing, and wings of all shades, 

 from the pale blue dun of the tern to the dark plum hue of 

 the water-hen and coot are hatching and taken by the 

 fish, in the day time and again in the evening, in their 

 second dresses. The little freckled duns are hatching very 

 numerous, and the spinner tribes in great numbers and 

 varieties. The spinner and black and yellow spinner may 

 be fished natural, for the fish are in the midst of living food ; 

 and the trout, like the lion, " feeds on nothing that doth 

 seem as dead." Flights of ants and the pismire tribes are 

 common this month. The beetle and house fly tribes have 

 their turns with the fish. The wily craftsman strives to 

 fall in with the favorite, when he marks the fish rising, and 

 notes each flitting fly ; for the flies and the fish must lead 

 him the way. At this high temperature of the air, the 



No. 2. Body, two strands of a magpie's tail feather ; wings and hackle, starling. 



No. 3. As No. 2, but employing the scales of a pike for the wings. 



No. 4. Body, heron's feather ; hackle, dark starling. I may add that the flies, 

 or rather midges, dressed according to the above patterns, which Mr. Marston kindly 

 sent for my inspection, were simply perfection ; they were, I believe, dressed by Mr. 

 Hall himself, and were tied upon the patent-eyed hooks which were invented by that 

 gentleman. No. 3 was a triumph of art, the pike's scales exactly imitating the 

 wings of the natural insect ; the hooks are, however, necessarily so very small, that 

 when the fish is hooked, the chance of landing him is extremely remote, consequently 

 I do not consider that " the game is worth the candle." 



