A LITTLE ENTOMOLOGY 65 



life-history would doubtlessly prove an absorbing 

 study, if one possessed the requisite patience and 

 leisure ; so far we have contented ourselves with 

 attempts at imitations or rather suggestions of the 

 tiny creatures in their winged state and in endea- 

 vouring to lure trout with these creations. 



There are many reasons why the angler should 

 study the development of aquatic flies. As is 

 only too well known, there are some days during 

 the season that are not good fishing days, even 

 though the lure employed be the floating fly. Some- 

 times the trout from one cause or another unanim- 

 ously resolve to abstain entirely from food ; fishing 

 can then be weariness indeed and, when that is so, 

 surely it is pleasant to turn the attention to some- 

 thing else of interest, the food of trout, for example, 

 the other living creatures of the water. The time 

 passes quickly and perhaps profitably, for something 

 may be learned which may be the means of en- 

 suring sport on another occasion, possibly at some 

 later period of the day, for few days are wholly 

 blank or hopeless. 



In time the angler will acquire a vast store of 

 knowledge which will always be reflected in the 

 sport obtained under any conditions. He will at 

 least learn to distinguish the various orders of flies 

 and, when he goes to purchase, for example, a 

 stock of sedge-flies, he will unhesitatingly refuse 

 to accept, though it is not unlikely that he will be 

 offered, specimens adorned with the upright wings of 

 the Ephemerida. He will know, with a fair degree 

 of certainty, what species he should meet on the 

 river when he goes in pursuit of the trout. Though 

 no sign of life comes from the stream, no indication 



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