IMITATION OF THE NATURAL INSECT 141 



not an imitation of any favourite food of the 

 fish. Its value as a lure is well known to those 

 who fish in the lakes and streams of Canada and 

 Maine, but trout do not take it because they 

 recognise it as a familiar article of diet. They 

 probably take it because of its brilliant colour, 

 in which respect it embodies Professor Rennie's 

 idea of what a "fly" should be. Being made up 

 of reds and whites, it probably reflects more 

 light than do sombre-hued patterns and, conse- 

 quently, is the more easily seen. As a rule, it 

 is taken under water, and most often after it 

 has sunk to considerable depth. 



Speaking of the Alexandra, Mr. Halford says: 

 "It certainly is not the imitation of any in- 

 digenous insect known to entomologists; pos- 

 sibly the bright silver body moving through the 

 river gives some idea of the gleam of a minnow. 

 Long ere this its use should have been prohib- 

 ited on every stream frequented by the bona- 

 fide fly-fisherman, as it is a dreadful scourge 

 to any water, scratching and frightening an im- 

 mense proportion.of the trout which are tempted 

 to follow it." If this means anything, it means 

 that trout are at first attracted by the fly or 

 lure, but upon closer inspection discover the 

 cheat, and, taking it uncertainly, are often 



