FLIES FOR MARCH. 



71 



No. 7. PEACOCK FLY. 



This fly represents a small beetle, extremely 

 abundant on warm sunny days. Its usual habit 

 on alighting is to gather up the wings under its 

 short wing scales (a habit like that of the earwig, 

 which flies about in autumn) ; but when it falls 

 upon water, it cannot always succeed in doing 

 so ; then, therefore, the wings lie nearly flat 

 upon its back. However fine the day may be, 

 and however clear the water, some sport may 

 still be expected with this fly, until the end of 

 May, but it is most successfully used on a sultry 

 gloomy day. 



IMITATION. 



BODY. Ruddy brown peacock's herl, dressed 

 with mulberry-coloured silk. 



WINGS. The darkest part of a wing feather 

 of the starling. 



LEGS. A hackle stained dark purple ; ap- 

 pearing black when looked down upon ; but 

 when held up to the light, having a most beauti- 

 ful dark tortoiseshell hue. (See Dyes, Chap. II. 

 article 5.) Hook, No. 1 or 2, short. 



REMARKS. The Buzz form of this fly is a 

 great Grayling killer, in spring and autumn, and 

 is much prized on the Derwent, near Rowsley. 



