CHALK-STREAM FISHING WITH DRY FLY, 341 



an imitation of the small grass moth which flutters about 



in the meadows by the riverside. 

 Body : White floss silk, ribbed with silver ; hackled all over 



with buff or light red hackle. 

 Wings: Landrail. 

 Hook, oo to i. 



(2) THE RED SEDGE (or, Sedge proper). 



Body : Red fur from hare's face, or fox's ear, or from the 

 reddest part of an opossum skin. Rib it with gold 

 thread and wind on a red hackle from tail to head. 



Wing: A ruddy feather from a landrail's wing, 



Hook, oo to i. 



(3) THE BIG SEDGE, This is the local name, but I prefer to 



call it the ' Cinnamon.' It is a fat, toothsome morsel, 

 nearly an inch long, and answers capitally on a moon- 

 light night, when it is warm, still, and free from mist. 

 I have killed many heavy fish with it, especially in Sep- 

 tember, during the harvest moon. 



The dressing I prefer is the same as that given for 

 the red sedge, on a No. 2 hook, and winged with the 

 reddest part of a cock landrail's wing, or, better still, 

 with one of the under covert feathers of the peahen, 

 which are very faintly mottled with a darker shade of 

 brown. 



Though true to nature, I think it is a mistake to 

 dress the body thick, for the fly is apt to be heavy and 

 lumpy, and so float badly. 



XI. THE ALDER 



Is very useful in June, and on some rivers will kill in the 

 May-fly season better than the drake itself. It is in great 

 favour with the Fairford anglers, and the natural fly is very 

 plentiful on the Colne. 



Body : Bronze-coloured peacock herl. 



