THE COMMON BROWN TROUT. 229 



sect life, which possesses certain characteristics broadly separating it from 

 minnows, et hoc genus crane, or, in other words, a fly, possesses certain 

 features which plainly indicate to the fish that it is a fly, and not a 

 worm or a minnow. These, broadly, are wings and legs, and a slight body, 

 of a shape scarcely ever varied in general outline. Certain insects are 

 more nutritious than others, possessing, like the ant, may be, a juice of 

 vital fluid, which has for the stomach of a trout peculiar attractions. 

 These properties fix its general shape and form, and impress its identity 

 on the fish's eye, and he, having once taken such an insect, does not 

 forget it. Its colour is probably not very distinctly seen from under- 

 neath, but we are not warranted in supposing that the point is of no con- 

 sequence. Indubitably, trout are occasionally colour blind, for on some 

 streams they will only take flies of a peculiar colour. Usually, however, 

 any fly which most clearly imitates the general characteristics of the 

 natural fly will kill fish. Ergo, a close imitation of the features of the 

 prevalent fly at the time of fishing is the right and only method. I am 

 quite prepared to admit that there is exceeding difficulty in imitating 

 the nerve-winged insects which chiefly form the food of trout, but that 

 cannot be a reason for not attempting to do so. As a green drake lies 

 upon the stream it simply exhibits its delicate tracery of wing-fibre, and 

 not the transparent interspacing. It is admitted that fish cannot clearly 

 distinguish the difference between this tracery and its varieties ; why 

 should one, therefore, be so very careful that the imitation is exact, 

 though it is probably better so, because the limit of the trout's 

 perceptive power is not known ? I ask any unprejudiced person to turn 

 to the dressings given by Eonald and compare the imitation with the 

 original, and say if the impossibility is so great as Mr. Pennell 

 would make out. 



The "green," "yellow," and "brown" almost monopolise the 

 phryganidce and ephemeridce, therefore Mr. Pennell would fish with a bait 

 confessedly not an imitation of the shape even of any fly, and either all 

 green, all yellow, or all brown. And this is the system of fly fishing 

 which, to use his own words, has " never been fairly met or logically 

 controverted." How can anyone meet or "logically controvert" that 

 which has no logical sequence ? 



But our author asserts that his theory and practice stand the test of 

 experience, and is, indeed, victorious over all others. Apart from the 

 crushing reply to this, which emanated from the late Mr. Stewart, and is 

 published in a brochure form by Black, of Edinburgh, I would refer to an 

 experience of another sort, which the angler will no doubt apply when the 

 American kill-devil which consisted of a spoon, silver on one side and red 

 on the other, and ornamented with a tuft of red worsted came over for 



