236 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



(if, indeed, thou hast not one already, thou and all things which live) 

 and make thee happy in all aeons to come, but as it is, such immortality 

 as I can bestow on thee here is small return for all the pleasant days 

 thou hast bestowed on me." 



There are several variations in the methods of emergence, but prac- 

 tically, whether a shorter or longer time be taken, the procedure is the 

 same. In the case of the stone fly, for example, after leaving its case, 

 it creeps to the shore and there passes several days before it becomes a 

 fly proper. In this state it is the creeper of northern anglers, of fishing 

 with which I shall have something to say anon. 



Concerning the personal appearance of the creeper, Stewart says that 

 it is the most " venomous-looking insect that the angler in pursuit of 

 his vocation has to encounter." And so it is. It runs fast, with a 

 wriggling serpentine motion, and when taken up in the hands for the first 

 time its six forked legs tickle one as alarmingly as does a cockchafer. 

 It is very deadly to fish, however. 



Having thus adverted to the natural history of the chief families of flies 

 with which the tyro has to deal, I will without further preface give a list 

 which, whilst not being very long, is very sufficient. Also, as a curiosity, 

 the reader will perceive I have quoted the flies given by the earliest 

 English writer on the subject, Julyana Berners, in the Boke of St. Albans. 

 The angler will note the advancement of his art from this. The list is 

 arranged according to season, but this arrangement must be varied as 

 experience and locality dictate. It may be added that in most cases it is 

 not advisable to commence fishing till March. Therefore I begin with 



FLIES FOR MARCH. 



" The Donne Flye. The body of the donne woll and the wynges of the 

 pertryche. A nother donne flye, the body of black woll, the wynges of 

 the blackyst drake, and the jay and the wynge and under the tayle." 

 Dame Berners gives this as a good fly for March, which, albeit very in- 

 ferior to those of modern make, will kill satisfactorily. Mind, I do not 

 recommend it, but as a curiosity I have made and used it with singular 

 success, when the trout seemed unwilling to notice the finer manu- 

 factures of Ronald and Francis. 



The Red Fly, or Old Joan (Order Neuroptera, family Perlidce, genus 

 Nemoura, species Nebulosa) . This fly is often out as early as the middle 

 of February, and is in certain parts of England very plentiful. At 

 Bakewell, according to Eonald, it is especially so. The following is 

 that author's dressing of the fly, which I here, in every case, give for 

 the reason that I can conceive of no better method or materials in the 

 majority of cases. The fly is called the February red in some parts and 



