WATER INSECTS AND THE RISE 79 



accounts for the value of the Silver Bodied Dun on a 

 wet dark day. 



" The partridge and yellow, snipe and yellow, 

 snipe and purple, and other such hackles are, of course 

 largely the nymphs of the above flies, though there 

 are others of the perlidae and the phryganidae, which 

 are valuable on tree-covered or gravel bordered 

 streams. 



" The other thing we mentioned was my fancy for 

 the Claret and Mallard, and its reasons. The pattern 

 I mean is claret silk body, not fur or wool, ribbed 

 round gold wire, black or furnace hackle, and grey 

 mallard wings. I have this fly generally in nearly 

 all sizes, and on unknown waters most often begin 

 with it on the cast, in sizes according to what I 

 expect at the time of year. 



" On oo hook, it is a passable Iron Blue Dun. 



" On o hook, it will do for a Blue Dun or a dirty 

 Red Spinner and is the right size for any of the Olive 

 Duns. 



" On No 2 to 4, it is about the size and not unlike 

 a March Brown in all its changes a gravel bed or 

 an alder. 



" And lastly, as No. 5, or 6, it makes a dark moth 

 or sedge, or in the May fly season, when this size 

 kills best, a dark Mackerel. And it is not its worst 

 fault that it is the best sea trout fly, and salmon 

 do not seem to dislike it. 



" I ask you to excuse this unconscionable epistle, 

 and beg to remain, 



' Yours sincerely, 



" R. T. WlCKHAM." 



However exact may be the artificial fly, both in colour, 

 shape, and size to the natural insect which the trout are 

 taking, a fisherman will often find that his artificial one will 

 be neglected in favour of the natural fly whose legs and wings 

 may happen to be moving. In such a case, it is advisable 



