100 ADVANTAGE OF K.\To.M<>l,< K; Y. 



than many of the kdbitu&t of the water cmild with their 

 piscatory heirlooms and relics. This, however, does not 

 apply to all lakes. On many of these, whether it be 

 owing to the depth of water or what not, fancy has a good 

 deal to do with the trout's notions, though on others I 

 have found entomology exceedingly successful. Of course 

 here and there one madi some old fellow who knows 

 every stone and eddy, and whose local knowledge must 

 give him a great advantage ; but, as a rule, I have always 

 found a close imitation of the natural fly to do better than 

 all the blacks, or browns, or reds, or blues, or hare-lugs, 

 and all the colours of the rainbow, which the Celtic prac- 

 titioner regards as awed traditions. I never wanted yet 

 to ask what fly was taking, if there were any fly at all on, 

 knowing at a glance, from experience, pretty well what the 

 fly was ; for a blue dun, or a yellow dun, or red spinner, 

 or a March brown, are the same flies, and should be dressed 

 in the same way on the north of Tweed as on the south. 



Although there are many kinds of flies which do kill, 

 the chief ones which the angler must rely upon are those 

 which are best known to the trout ; and these are the flies 

 born of the water, or which from their habits and location 

 are most likely to be blown on to it. Of these, though 

 there are a considerable number in the aggregate, yet the 

 best of them, and those which are most abundant, are 

 found on every stream, and are, as I have said, the same 

 on aU of them ; and they are not so numerous but that any 

 angler may with a little trouble become tolerably well ac- 

 quainted with them. Of course there are partial and local 

 exceptions flies which are found in some waters and not in 

 others but even these he will become acquainted with in 

 time. Do not listen therefore, dearly beloved pupil, to de- 

 lusive talk of hares' ears and yellow, or hare's ear and pur- 

 ple, or green, or what not, or bloas of all sorts of shades, 

 or fancy flies of endless hue. Some of these certainly kill, 



