CHAPTER VI. 



June 



THE MAYFLY. 



THE early days of June are marked with red letters 

 in the calendar of the Southern fly-fisher, who 

 looks forward to the rise of "the fly," i.e., the 

 Mayfly, as the time when he will be the captor 

 of a giant trout. Many or few as may have been his 

 previous victims, he still thirsts for the record fish 

 which will satisfy his inward longings. How true it is 



Hope springs eternal in the human breast, 

 Man never is, but always to be, blest. 



So every year about the latter end of May or the 

 beginning of June, Piscator awaits eagerly the looked-for 

 telegram conveying the welcome news that " the fly is 

 up." Most of us know the meaning of this term To 

 those who do not, the following brief explanation is 

 given. 



The larval Mayfly spends its time under water for a 

 period of two years, according to our best authorities ; 

 and in the early summer, when the water gets to a 

 certain temperature, hatches out into its sub-imago or 

 first winged condition, known as the Green Drake. I am 

 not aware if it is generally known that the female May- 

 fly alone undergoes its transformation on the water. 

 The male, on the other hand, creeps up the stem of 

 some reed on the bank, and there hatches. He then 

 begins his up and down dance on the shore, and never 



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