THE YOUNG ANGLER. 273 



in an oven or over the fire, and if not overdone, they will keep a 

 long while. 



In March, the blue dun and cow-dung flies make their appear- 

 ance, and may be used throughout the year. The March brown fly 

 appears about the same time, but is out of season at the end of April; 

 it is a capital bait, arid it kills most from eleven till three. 



In April, the green tail and gravel flies come out ; they are soon 

 out of season, the former continuing not more than a week, and the 

 latter about a fortnight. The black gnat, which continues till the 

 end of May, and the stone fly, complete the list for April. 



In May, the increasing warmth of the weather brings more in- 

 sects forward ; accordingly, the green drake, the grey drake, the 

 fern, hazel, ash, orl, little iron blue, and yellow sally flies, form the 

 bill for the month. The two first flies appear much about the 

 same time, and are most excellent baits in trout fishing ; they con- 

 tinue in season about a month ; and are very plentiful on sandy, 

 gravelly streams. The fern and ash flies continue till September ; 

 the hazel, yellow sally, and little iron blue flies, for a month, and the 

 orl fly for about two months. 



In June, the white gnat, cock- tail, gold -spinner, governor, blue 

 gnat, whirling dun, hare's ear, and kingdom flies. The gold-spinner, 

 governor, and kingdom flies continue till August ; the blue gnat for 

 about a fortnight, and the other flies during the summer. 



In July, August, and September ; in the first named month, the 

 red ant ; in the second, the whirling blue ; and in the last, the 

 willow fly ; they continue in season till fishing is over. 



Ant flies may be procured from June till September in their 

 hills; they are never-failing baits for chub, roach, and dace, if 

 you let your hook hang about six inches from the bottom of the 

 stream. 



The great white moth, which can be obtained in the summer 

 evenings in gardens, on trees and shrubs, is a serviceable bait when 

 dibbing for roach in the twilight. 



The hawthorn fly makes its appearance on hawthorn trees, when 

 the leaves are beginning to sprout ; it is a dark coloured fly, and is 

 used as a bait for trout, though there are many other fish that will 

 snap at it eagerly. 



The bonnet fly, which frequents standing grass, is an extremely 

 good bait for chub and dace. 



Common flies are, by some anglers, reckoned the best baits for dace 

 and bleak ; two or three of them at a time should be put on a No. 10 

 hook for dace, and one on a No. 12 hook for bleak. 



Ant flies must be kept in bottles, in some of the earth from which 

 they are taken. Common flies may be kept in a bottle, but the 

 most convenient natural fly-holder is a horn bottle made in a conical 

 form, having a wooden bottom pierced with a multitude of small 

 holes to admit air, and which apertures must be so small that the 

 minutest fly you employ cannot escape through. The apex of tho 

 cone should be stopped up with a cork, so that by uncorking it you 

 may take out your baits easily without losing any of them. 



