A PRINCIPLE ILLUSTRATED. 133 



judicious cast made just above the rising fish, and 

 the fly allowed to float towards and over them, 

 and the chances are ten to one that it will be 

 seized as readily as a living insect. This dry fly, 

 we must remark, should be an imitation of the 

 natural fly on which the fish are feeding, because, 

 if widely different, the fish, instead of being 

 allured, would most likely be surprised and startled 

 at the novelty presented, and would suspend 

 feeding until the appearance of their favourite 

 and familiar prey. 



We mention this as an illustration of the im- 

 portance of imitating action, and must not be 

 understood to recommend the constantly sub- 

 stituting of a dry fly for a wet one, over every 

 rising fish. Better, as a general rule, when the 

 angler, after a few casts, finds the fish over 

 which he throws unwilling to be tempted, pass 

 on in search of a more willing victim. This 

 caution is the more necessary, because anglers 

 too often expect to take every rising fish over 

 which they throw ; whereas it is really only under 

 particular circumstances, and in favourable situ- 

 ations, that the motions of the natural insect can 

 be so imitated as to prove successful, unless the 

 fish are ravenous and seize everything presented 

 to them, a state of things not often experienced. 



K 3 



