of water-rat's fur spun on primrose silk ; wings, from a 

 dark starling wing feather, set on very upright ; for legs, 

 a dark dun hen's hackle set in close up behind the wings, 

 and brought well forward underneath. This fly is dressed 

 in a variety of shades too numerous to mention, but all 

 of them are useful at times. 



THE MARCH BROWN. 



This fly is similar in shape to the Blue Dun, and is 

 eagerly devoured by the trout. It appears on most 

 streams, but is more numerous on the river Usk, Mon- 

 mouthshire, than any other stream I have fished. I have 

 seen them come on there by thousands, and when the 

 water is low, the rise of the fish, which is generally 

 in the middle of the stream, is worth seeing ; but it 

 is useless trying the artificial March Brown while 

 the rise is on. The best time is between the flights. I 

 then generally use my own fancy fly, or Hoffland's, and 

 have been successful with them. The March Brown is 

 more numerous in rapid rivers than slow currents. 

 Imitation for the body : fur from the hare's ear, mixed 

 with a little yellowish olive mohair spun on yellow silk, 

 well waxed, and ribbed over with fine gold tinsel, gold 

 twist, or yellow silk ; tail, three strands of partridge tail 

 feather ; wings taken from the reddish-brown feather of 

 the hen pheasant wing, set on very upright and full ; for 

 legs, a feather from the middle of the back of a brown 

 partridge set in close up behind the wings. I have had 

 excellent sport on the river Usk with one dressed as 

 follows : body, fur from the hare's ear mixed with a 



