APRIL FLIES 151 



named for the last one, all of which may still be depended on. 

 But there are many other excellent flies which make their 

 appearance this month. Chief amongst them is 



The Yellow Dun, yellow-legged bloa of Jackson, hare's ear 

 and yellow, etc. (see Plate VIII, Fig. 6, p. 134). I am almost 

 inclined to think that the yellow dun is but a modification or 

 sort of second crop of the blue dun ; at any rate it bears a very 

 close relationship to it. It seems to prefer warmer weather than 

 the blue dun, and comes on more during the middle of the day 

 than at morning or evening. It should be dressed of the same 

 size as the blue dun. The body is of an olive-yellow. Take a 

 shred of yellow .silk, wax it lightly with a bit of the light wax 

 (see white wax receipt), and then unravel it, and wind it on the 

 hook for the body. The centre of the silk which has not been 

 touched by the wax will, as I have shown in the blue dun, 

 show a brighter coil here and there, which will give the brighter 

 yellow rings or joints of the body. Contrive, if possible, when 

 thus laying it on, to make the yellowest portions show on the 

 belly, and the darker or more olive hue caused by the wax more 

 visible upon the back, as the back of the fly is of a darker tinge 

 than the belly. If this be neatly and properly done, it gives a 

 capital imitation of the body. Some writers recommend 

 mohair and crewels, but this cannot be a good imitation, 

 because the body is smooth and shiny, and not in the least 

 rough, added to which, crewels and such materials should never 

 be used for these flies if they can be avoided, as they suck up a 

 good deal of water, and make the fly lumpy and heavy. The 

 legs should be made of a delicate honey dun hen's hackle. This 

 hackle has a dull, pale, smoky bluish centre and golden tips, 

 which show more plainly when held up to the light. It is rather 

 a scarce feather to obtain, and the owners of hens which 

 produce it in perfection are rather choice over them, and there- 

 fore if the angler cannot get it, he may use the hackle of a light 

 buff Cochin China hen, which practically does almost as well. 

 To vary the shade, if the body be at all dark, use a pale blue dun 

 hackle. The wing should be taken from the wing of a young 

 starling, being a lighter colour and having a finer texture than 

 that of an old one. The tail is short and limp, and is best 

 imitated by leaving about half an inch of a couple of the un- 

 twisted strands of the silk of which the body is composed, or the 

 angler may use two strands of the buff Cochin hackle. Hooks 

 No. 9 and 10 or smaller. This fly, which is also indispensable 

 to the angler, after a few days changes its coat and becomes 



