THE CLASSES. 6 



2ND. DRAKES. The Drake genus claims next the atten- 

 tion of the fly fisher ; they are all bred in the water. The 

 green drake is the largest, and the pattern fly of the class 

 the white drake is the smallest. They have close thick 

 shoulders and smooth taper bodies, which curve upwards 

 like the feathers in the tail of a drake from which it is 

 said they are named. Their bodies consist of eight or nine 

 joints or rings of a dim transparency, and in length near 

 two-thirds of the fly ; they have a pair of smooth oblong 

 wings which, when at rest, stand upright like those of a 

 butterfly, and are generally about the length of the fly, and 

 better than half the breadth ; a diminutive wing stands at 

 the root of each large one ; and they have two or three 

 hairs in the tail. They are indifferent runners on both land 

 and water, and will suffer themselves to be taken up by the 

 wings. They are not so hardy as the browns ; their shoul- 

 ders and bodies are naked and exposed, but nature has 

 furnished them with a temporary covering to protect them 

 from the cold, which they cast off when it is no longer 

 required. They are hatched and take wing, a perfect fly, 

 in this protective covering, which is a thin filmy skin, that 

 fits close to all the parts, and obscures or tinges the real 

 colors of the fly ; at its own time, probably when the 

 weather suits, it bursts open its temporary covering at the 

 shoulders, in the same way as it did the creeper case [see 

 Creeper], and comes out generally a different color, giving 

 it the appearance of a different fly. The wings are then 

 more transparent and sparkling, the colors more distinct, 

 and the whole fly, as if imbued with fresh spirit, is more 

 smart and active. They then sport on the wing, and 

 assemble together into those groups or swarms we see 

 about the waters in summer evenings, usually called spin- 

 ners, when they are in their matured state and last dress. 

 Individuals vary in each species of the Drake class : some 

 may be seen with very long fore legs, long hairs or whisks 

 in the tail, and case eyes, which seem placed on a flat or 

 convex projection from each side of the top of the head ; 



