vi Preface. 



and fullest treatment ; and although one would 

 suppose that surely nothing remained to be said 

 on this well-worn theme, it is believed that sev- 

 eral facts of importance, especially in regard to the 

 influence of the wind on the success of the sport, 

 appear here for the first time. 



Into the list of flies I have admitted only those 

 which, from close observation and actual trial, I 

 have proved to be most worthy of the angler's 

 regard. All of them, with the exception of the 

 sand-fly (which attains its maturity in the sand 

 and gravel at the side of the water), are hatched 

 in the bed of the stream, and constitute the ready 

 and natural food of the fish. The remarks under 

 this head are more particularly applicable to the 

 Clyde and the Tweed ; still I believe they will hold 

 good for all rivers and streams in this country, for 

 the common natural flies are found more or less on 

 all alike, and differ merely in the times of their 

 development. No apology is offered for intro- 

 ducing into the text a few facts concerning their 

 natural history and habits; for while there is no 

 need that the angler be an entomologist, it goes 

 without saying that he who takes an intelligent 

 interest in all that relates to his craft, will both 



