GRAYLING. 51 



dull and lifeless as it had been previously to the fly 

 coming on. 



The wings of all the winter flies are set perpendi- 

 cularly* on their shoulders, and they all have long 

 hairs in the tail, like the May-flies and the duns : in 

 fact, I helieve they are all of them duns with then- 

 winter clothing on, and you will find them continually 

 varying their shades. I have never seen any of these 

 winter flies on the wing : whenever I have observed 

 them they have always been floating on the water, 

 with their wings erect on the back ; and the grayling 

 suck them in whilst floating down the stream. Whe- 

 ther these flies are hatched at the bottom of the river, 

 or on the sedge and reeds at the sides, I am not na- 

 turalist enough to venture to express an opinion. 



It is almost useless trying to fish for grayling in 

 the winter, unless the weather be fine and not too 

 much water in the river : but should the atmosphere 

 be very dry, and the water be fit, no matter how cold 

 the air may be, the fish will be sure to be on the feed 

 the moment the fly appears. 



It will of course be necessary to dress yourself 



* See Appendix, GK 



E 2 



