THE CAPERER JULY. 231 



willows low upon the water, now high in the air, seldom 

 settling, but constantly hovering over the water. It is a 

 fine, fat, and tempting bait, and late in the afternoon, or 

 early in the evening, may be seen thickly on the water. 

 Dress it on a No. 8 or 9 hook ; body fall, of mixed hare's 

 ear and water-rat fur ; a few strands of hare's ear picked 

 out for the legs, or a grizzled blue dun hackle may be 

 used ; wings upright and full, a little starling for the 

 under wing, and corncrake over it. 



The Caperer is another fly of the same class as the last. 

 It is a large fly, and comes out towards evening, its mo- 

 tions as it flits up and down from the bank to the water 

 justifying its name. There is a smaller fly of the same 

 kind called the Skipjack. It is dressed upon a No. 7 

 or 8 hook, some using it of even larger size. Two turns 

 of gold twist at the tail ; body, brownish rusty red mohair ; 

 legs, red cock's hackle, not too dark ; wings, the marbled 

 portion of hen pheasant's wing feather. It is in great 

 request in the midland counties, especially on the Kennet, 

 and I am sure would make a capital lake-trout fly. 



The flies necessary for June are the green and grey 

 drakes, the sedge and alder being great holdfasts. Duns 

 and spinners, already noted, abound, and must not be 

 neglected. The barm fly and caperer should have a 

 place in the book, as a change with the alder and sedge 

 for evenings. The coch-y-bondu, of course, and the fern 

 fly sometimes will be useful. Midges must have a place ; 

 though seldom very useful now, they do later on. 



JULY. The Red and Black Ants are very favourite flies 

 during July : they are of course more plentiful on some 

 -waters, and during some seasons, than others. 



The Red Ant should be tied on a No. 8, 9, or 10 hook. 

 The body of peacock herl, left au naturel as regards the 

 lower or tail half, and tied in at the waist with copper- 



