190 MARCH FLIES. 



existence is similar to that already described for the 

 Ephemerae, save that it is somewhat more prolonged. 



As I am not writing a work upon entomology, it is not 

 worth while to occupy further space by describing the 

 history of the other various orders. It will suffice to say 

 that they all more or less go through somewhat similar 

 transformations egg, larva, pupa, imago, being the pro- 

 gress of their existence, which is carried out either in 

 the earth, or in annual or vegetable mntters, in the drop- 

 pings of cattle, or the bark of trees. Nor should I have 

 ventured to dip even thus far into the science of ento- 

 mology, save to dispel errors of belief and judgment, 

 which often produce in practice results unfavourable to 

 the angler's interests. I trust, however, that these ex- 

 planations may be found so far interesting to the angler 

 as to call for no further apology for their introduction. 



March is quite early enough to begin fly-fishing ; for 

 though they do begin in Devonshire in February, yet, as 

 the ghost of Giles Scroggins said to Molly, when she ob- 

 jected to go with him because she was not dead, That's 

 no rule.' One of the first flies found abroad, particularly 

 in the midland counties' streams, is 



The February Red. For a representation of the natural 

 fly, see Plate VII. fig. 12, p. 185. I have the dressing of 

 this fly from the late Mr. Ackers, the president of the 

 Leintwardine Club, as it is much in favour in that part 

 of the country. It belongs to the Perlidae, and is a 

 member of the same family as the great stone fly, the 

 smaller willow fly, and the still smaller needle brown. 

 Their wings, of which they have two sets, are hard, horny, 

 and shining, and are folded flat on the back in a very 

 small space; aud, though comparatively small-looking 

 insects when at rest, when on the wing their appearance 

 is greatly increased by the double allowance of wings. 

 Body, two turns of dirty claret-red mohair at the tail, 



