238 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN.. 



manthus, species Rufescens [imago]), which is the same insect as the 

 Blue Dun in a different stage of existence, is dressed thus by Mr. 

 Francis. As each writer gives a variation, I select his, it being unques- 

 tionably the best : " Body. Dark red brown silk, winged with fine gold 

 wire. Legs. A red hackle. Tail. Three wisps of the same. Wing. 

 A dark, shiny, brown feather, the more brilliant and transparent the 

 better." (By the by, Mr. Francis' brilliance is chiefly given by opacity !) 

 Ronald : " Body. Thin, of bright brown silk, ribbed with fine gold twist. 

 fail. Two whisks of a red cock's hackle. Wings. Upright, from a 

 mottled grey feather of the mallard, stained to match the colour of the 

 natural wings. Legs. Plain red cock's hackle." 



March Brown Dun Drake, called in Wales the Cob Fly (Order Neurop- 

 tera, family Ephemeridce) . It requires much higher temperature and a 

 comparative absence of wind to enable the nymphce of this fly to change 

 to its imago state. It lives three days or thereabouts, and then changes 

 into the great Red Spinner. There is a slight difference between the male 

 and the female of these flies. The former is of a chocolate hue, and the 

 latter of a green brown. It continues in season till May, and I have 

 even used it on some waters with considerable success till August. It is 

 not then, however, to be found in any numbers. The following is a 

 capital imitation of the male. Body. Five of the hare's face, ribbed 

 over with olive silk and tied with brown. Tail. Two strands of a 

 partridge feather. Wings. Quill feather from the middle of the hen 

 pheasant's wing, which may be found of the exact shade. Legs. A 

 brown mottled feather from the back of a partridge. 



Cow-dung Fly (Order Diptera, family Muscidce, genus Scatophaga, 

 species Stercoraria). This well-known fly is plentiful during all the 

 warm weather, and forms a most useful lure ; on some streams great 

 quantities can be seen in March. The early specimens are mostly small, 

 but as April comes in and progresses they become larger and more lively. 

 The following is a capital dressing. Body. Yellow worsted, crewel, 

 mohair, or camlet, mixed with a little dingy brown fur from the bear or 

 squirrel, and left rough, spun upon light brown silk. Wings from the 

 landrail. Legs. Of a ginger-coloured hackle. The female is made buzz 

 thus : Body. Olive-coleured mohair or worsted, spun on silk of the 

 same colour. Wings and Legs. Of a red cock's hackle, changed to a 

 brown colour by putting it into a solution of copperas. Hook No. 3, 

 short. 



The Red Palmer. Though Mr. Francis scorns the necessity for the 

 close imitation of the caterpillar of the Arctia caxa moth, there can be 

 no doubt that this caterpillar is killing, whether it is seldom or often 

 found on the water. According to Currie, it changes its skin ten times 



