FLIES, FLY-DRESSING, ETC. 71 



because it is a shade too dark, and a second because 

 it is a shade too light, and a third to give place to 

 the imitation of some insect which has just made its 

 appearance on the water. 



During the summer months it is supposed that the 

 varieties of insects are reckoned by the thousand, and 

 we have seen several dozens of different kinds on the 

 water at one time, all of which are greedily devoured 

 by the trout. Those anglers who think trout will 

 take no fly unless it is an exact imitation of some one 

 of the immense number of flies they are feeding on, 

 must suppose that they know to a shade the colour 

 of every fly on the water, and can detect the least 

 deviation from it an amount of entomological 

 knowledge that would put to shame the angler him- 

 self, and a good many naturalists to boot. This 

 opinion arises from the supposition that trout will 

 not take anything readily unless they are accustomed 

 to feed upon it, and consequently that they will not 

 take a fly unless it has been on the water sufficiently 

 long to allow them to become acquainted with it. 

 Nothing can be more erroneous than this. Trout will 

 take worms and grubs which they have never seen 

 before. They will also take parr-tail readily, and they 

 can never have seen it before ; and in like manner 

 with other things ; and there is no reason why fly 

 should be an exception. 



We do not think it at all likely that trout can 

 see the colour of a fly very distinctly. The worst 

 light of all for seeing its colour is when it is placed 

 between you and the sky, as the trout see it. And 



