158 A BOOK ON ANGLING 



later on than now ; on the Itchen, Test, Darent, and Kennet, 

 it will kill well. It much resembles the sand fly, but is larger. 

 The body is of light buff crewel ; the hackle which runs from 

 tail to head is a pale red and a fine gold wire is usually run up 

 over the hackle the reverse way ; the wings are full, and are a 

 starling under wing and landrail upper wing. Hooks, Nos. 8 

 and 9. It is occasionally dressed both smaller and larger 

 hov/ever. 



The Quill Gnat spent gnat in Hampshire makes its 

 appearance late in April and runs on into May, and a very 

 pretty, useful little insect it is. It may be seen sailing up and 

 down in small flocks of a dozen or two, as the days grow milder 

 and the spring grows general, steadied in its flight by its long 

 tail, which is very long for the size of the insect. The hook 

 should be No. 10 or n ; the body composed of a strip of the 

 quill from a starling's feather neatly rolled on ; legs, dark 

 blue dun cock's hackle ; wing, bright starling's wing. Pull 

 the tail off and the fly will pass muster fairly for many other 

 small flies, which it somewhat resembles, throughout the 

 season. 



The flies which I consider indispensable for April, in con- 

 junction with those of March, are the yellow dun, brown 

 spinner, iron-blue (two shades) ; the black and quill gnats ; 

 the sand fly or the sedge, the latter preferred ; and, where 

 they are abundant, the gravel bed and grannom cannot be 

 omitted. 



MAY. The Stone Fly (see Plate VIII, Fig. n, p. 134) is now 

 out in considerable numbers where it is found. A few may 

 be found towards the end of April, but early in May is the most 

 favourite period for its full appearance. It is used naturally by 

 daping or dibbing principally, but on windy days the artificial 

 fly will often be found useful. This fly runs upon the water as 

 easily and nimbly as on the land, and with its double wings up 

 may often be seen half fluttering, half running, making its way 

 at a rapid pace across the stream, seldom remaining quiescent 

 as do so many other flies when sitting on the water's surface ; 

 essaying a flight, for which its heavy body is not very favour- 

 able, down it plumps on the water, and away it scuttles at a 

 great pace to the nearest bank. The angler may therefore 

 freely work his imitation, the liveliness he thus imparts to it 

 being perfectly natural and just. 



On some rivers it is called the May fly, but the green drake 

 has a prior claim to the title, though possibly not a better one, 



