MARCH. 215 



almost upright, after the manner of the duns and 

 other ephemerals. Many a neatly folded packet 

 finds its way into our hands, containing naturals for 

 identification, and as the March Brown proper, like 

 the May fly, does not frequent all waters, this fly, 

 acting in a manner as a substitute, causes endless 

 misconceptions ; and vast numbers of the Red fly 

 come to hand which are invariably mistaken for the 

 March Brown. The Blue Dun, or February Flapper, 

 so called because of its fluttering on the water more 

 than any other dun, is of a smoky-blue hue all over, 

 and when once seen can never be mistaken. 

 For further particulars of these flies see page 148. 



MARCH. 



The angler should be at the water-side from eleven 

 to four o'clock. The fish not yet having recovered their 

 full vigour after the winter season, are to be found on 

 the slow running streams and still deeps. The Red fly, 

 Blue and Cockwinged Duns, Cowdung fly, and March 

 Brown, are the most abundant flies on the water, and 

 therefore are the best to be used. A description of the 

 Red fly has been given under February. For particu- 

 lars of the Blue and Cockwinged Duns, see page 148. 

 The Cowdung fly is a common insect, the appearance 

 of which is well known to all. It is in boisterous 

 weather plentiful on the water. This is a land fly, 

 and is found in profusion on rich meadow land where 

 cows have been pastured. These insects rise from the 

 earth with the first days of spring. On cold windy 

 days, or in a sharp wind succeeding a few hours of 



