FLIES FOR MAY 159 



as the green drake seldom appears in large numbers until June 

 has commenced.* The female stone fly is much larger than the 

 male, and is the one principally used by anglers. The hook 

 should be No. 7, or No. 6 may even be used. Body, large and 

 full of mixed hare's ear and water-rat with a few strands of 

 dirty yellow mohair worked in, the tail part being exclusively 

 of a somewhat brighter yellow ribbed distinctly with yellow 

 silk ; legs, a grizzled dark blue dun cock's hackle ; tail, two 

 strands of a brown mallard's feather ; wing, hen pheasant's 

 wing. The horns or feelers on the stone fly are very marked, 

 and if it be thought desirable to have them, may be dressed 

 upright of two rabbit's whiskers. The larva of this fly is used 

 for fishing even more than the fly ; it is called the crab or 

 creeper. (See Creeper-fishing.) 



The Oak Fly, called also the cannon fly, the down-hill or 

 down-hooker, etc., from its habits of always sitting with its 

 head downwards towards the ground. It is amusing to see 

 with what certainty this fly will assume this particular posture ; 

 no matter in what way it perches on post or tree, it immediately 

 wheels round until it has taken up its favourite position, in 

 which it remains until disturbed. 



This fly has a very high character from some anglers. " Ephe- 

 mera " especially appears to have been very fond of it, and in 

 windy weather it may prove an attractive lure ; on fine still 

 days, however, as it is not strictly a water fly, it is not found so 

 plentifully upon the water. Being a largish fly it may be used 

 advantageously for daping perhaps ; I have often tried the 

 imitation, but never did much with it, even when the 

 natural fly was abundant on the grass and bushes by the 

 river side. However, as it certainly has a high reputation, I 

 suppose somehow and in some places it must have earned it, 

 so I give it for its legendary worth, which shows the value of 

 character, for from my own experience I should certainly 

 omit it. Hook, No. 9 or 10 ; body, orange floss silk. The 

 legs should be composed of a furnace hackle, i.e. a dark red 

 hackle with a streak of black up the centre ; this should be 

 tied in at the tail and wound up to the shoulders, the hackle 

 should then be snipped off short aU up the body, leaving visible 

 but spiral rings of the short black stubs. Enough of the hackle 



* It received the name of May fly when under the old style (Julian) calendar, 

 the ist of June represented what is now, under the new style (Gregorian) 

 calendar, the i8th of May. Allowance has to be made for this change m 

 connection with all ancient .weather saws, such as St. Swithin's day, " a 

 green yule." etc. ED. 



