FIRST PRINCIPLE OF FLY SELECTION. 135 



We have now enumerated the three principal 

 orders of winged water insects. A reproduction of 

 one of each some accomplished fly-fishers place upon 

 their casts for all round fishing ; but we do not advise 

 our readers to act up to any system, but would rather 

 encourage them to use their own observation, to be 

 quick to take note of existing influences and their 

 general bearings on the occasion, and thus to adapt 

 themselves to meet circumstances which would other- 

 wise prove detrimental to sport. The real essence of 

 the art lies in deceiving the fish by a correct copy of 

 any fly that may be at any time absorbing their 

 attention. 



We have yet briefly to mention the casual killers 

 amongst the numerous tribes of land insects, which 

 may be summed up as follows : Cow-dung-fly, Small 

 Beetles (marlow buzz, or cock-y-bondu), Oak-fly, Blue 

 Bottle, Wren-tail, the Ants, and Gray and Black Gnats. 

 These flies pass their pupa stage in the earth, either 

 in thickly wooded, or meadow land ; they, therefore, 

 do not habitually frequent the water, but are driven 

 upon it by rough weather. 



The Cow-dung-fly we have fully commented upon 

 in "Notes on the Months," page 215. The term 

 Small Beetles, includes the lady-cow and ear-wig, as 

 well as the small members of the beetle tribe proper, 

 which are prevalent more or less throughout the 

 season. The artificial is a simple hackled fly (else- 

 where described) which effectually represents the 

 numerous members of the above varieties. 



The Oak-fly, or Down-looker, usually accompanies 



