60 TLT FISMINO. 



so as to lap over the sides, and must be fastened at the head, which 

 should extend some little distance before the wings with very dark 

 brown or black silk. In a blustering day it may be made buz with 

 a bold blue hackle trimmed full and extending beyond the body. 



The soldier fly, so called from the red jacket that covers his 

 wings, is a beetle winged fly that comes in about the early part of 

 May, and continues during the two following months. There is 

 also another fly precisely like it that may be seen at the same time, 

 with the only difference that its wing coverings are of a slate co- 

 lour. The former fly may be imitated with a bright orange floss 

 silk body, ribbed with the finest black or brown silk, with a blue 

 hackle under the wings, which should be made of the red feather of 

 a partridge's tail ; the other may be imitated by substituting a star- 

 ling's feather for the wing. Both these flies are in proper season 

 in the warmer months, but I have known imitations of them very 

 successful at the very commencement of the season. 



The black fly, or cow dung beetle, is a killing fly. It is com- 

 monly imitated by a black hackle, but I have found it far more 

 attractive when tied in the form of a beetle. To accomplish this 

 take a few strips from the long feather of a cock's tail, which 

 must be of a black colour, with a strong green cast, as most of 

 those feathers on a dark coloured bird commonly are. Place these 

 strips on the upper side of the hook, inclining to the bend, and 

 warp your silk over them till you come down as far as you intend 

 the body of your fly to extend : then take a few more strips, or a 

 dark peacock herl, and wind on for a body which must be tolerably 

 full, beginning at the tail and finishing off towards the head, 

 having slightly secured this by a half hitch, turn the strips you 

 fastened on first, and now hanging from the tail, over the back of 

 the fly so as to represent the horny covering of a beetle's wing, 

 and afterwards fasten it off securely at the head, which you need 

 not trouble yourself much about the neatness of, as the head 

 should be tolerably large. Then cut off the superfluous particles, 

 and you will find you have as perfect an imitation of a beetle 

 winged fly, as the materials of a fly maker can make. This species 

 of insect in its natural state, is found in great abundance in cow 

 dung, about the middle or latter end of May, and all through the 

 month of June. It is a fly much used in dapping, but tied on as 

 above directed, it is one of the best flies that can be employed iu 

 a clear water on a bright May day, when in fact this and the fern 



