CREEPER AND STONE-FLY FISHING 81 



wide. In Britain, however, their home is in the 

 stony rivers of the north of England, and in Scot- 

 land and Ireland. They are hardly to be found in 

 the more sluggish rivers of the south. 



When full-grown about the middle of April 

 the nymph begins to crawl out of the water. After 

 he has reached the bank his skin splits down 

 the back, and the winged adult emerges. Leaving 

 what may be justly described as his " suit of 

 armour " behind him he quickly disappears again 

 under any shelter that is handy, but generally 

 speaking the large stones of the gravel beds are 

 the fly-stage habitat, and it is here the eggs are 

 laid. ' 



During the day-time odd flies can be seen flutter- 

 ing about in awkward flight. At night many of 

 them fly, but whether they take wing by night or 

 by day they never get far from the river of their 

 birth, and often alight on it, where they are quickly 

 swallowed up. 



Many of them, too, in crawling carelessly about 

 by the water's edge, get caught by the stream. 

 They dislike water, and as soon as they touch it 

 make frantic efforts to get back to dry land. If it 

 chances to be flat, still water, they often succeed, 

 with a kind of swift glide, or run. Those that touch 

 streamy water in this way have no chance, and are 



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