THE COMMON BROWN TROUT. 237 



remains a killing lure till the end of that month. Its colours are indicated 

 by the dressings: "Body. The dubbing is composed of the dark red 

 part of squirrel's fur, mixed with an equal quantity of claret-coloured 

 mohair, showing the most claret colour at the tail of the fly. This is 

 spun on brown silk thread, to form the body. Wings. From the softest 

 quill feather of the peahen's wing, which approaches the tint. Legs. 

 Of a claret-coloured stained hackle. No feather of its natural colour, 

 that I know of, is of the proper shade. Clip some of the upper fibres 

 off, that the wings may be flat. Hook No. 2, short." The following 

 is the dressing given by Mr. Francis, received by him from the president 

 of the Leintwardine Club, in whose hands it was very successful : 

 " Body. Two turns of dirty claret red mohair at the tail, and medium 

 brown mohair with a strand or two of hare's ear and claret thrown 

 in for the rest of the body. HacUe and Legs. A dark grizzled 

 blue dun (cock's) wing, a slip from the back of a peahen. Hook 

 No. 9 or 10." 



The Blue Dun or QocJc Tail (Order Neuroptera, family Ephemeridce, 

 genus Potamanthus, species Rufescens [pseud-imago]). This fly is but 

 a phase of the Bed Spinner, given in another part. It is fairly plentiful 

 in the beginning of March if the weather be mild, and becomes more so 

 towards the middle of the month. It is found on the water on windy 

 days when the wind blows from cold quarters, and I have seen it 

 positively numerous when a sharp nor'-easter has brought us sleet. It 

 rapidly takes flight after relinquishing its pupa state, and unless the 

 weather be mild, it does not assume much vigour of flight, becoming then 

 an easy prey. The fly is also known as the Early Dark Dun, the Hare's 

 Ear, the Blue Bloa, the Olive Bloa, the Blue Drake, the Hare's Pluck, 

 the Hare's Fleck, and the Blue Upright. It is a general favourite. 

 Body. Fur of a hare's ear or face, spun very thinly in fine yellow silk, 

 and wound on thickest at the shoulder. Some of the dubbing is then 

 picked out to form legs. Tail. Two fibres of a dun hackle. Wings. 

 From a quill feather of the starling's wing, which may be slightly stained 

 in onion dye. Legs. If a sufficient quantity of dabbing cannot be pricked 

 out for the legs, two or three turns of a ginger dun hackle can be 

 added, and will help to keep the wings upright. Put these on last, 

 whipping them on the bare hook, and finish the head. (Ronald.) 

 According to Francis, " Ephemera," in his list of March flies, reproduces 

 this fly under four different names, viz., the early Dark Dun, the Olive 

 Fly, the Dark Hare's Ear, and the Yellow. Certainly it is at any rate 

 a Proteus-like fly, albeit a valuable one. "A rose by any other name 

 would smell as sweet," &c. Francis gives Ronald's dressing. 



The Red Spinner (Order Neuroptera, family Ephemeridce, genus Pota- 



