102 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 



the difference between one species of common insect and 

 well-known fly and another; and, lacking this rudi- 

 mental knowledge of the insect world, are apt to credit 

 the fish with no greater powers of discernment than 

 themselves a great injustice to the natural instincts of 

 the denizens of the streams. Such delusions are pro- 

 pounded by fourth-rate followers of every branch of the 

 arts and sciences. That educated English trout can and 

 do distinguish the most trivial difference in both atti- 

 tude, size, and color, is a truism well-known and readily 

 acknowledged by all fishermen of experience.* The com- 

 plicated and ever-extending fly list of the leading author- 

 ities on fly-fishing tends rather to confuse and bewilder 

 than to enlighten the youthful aspirant, leading him 

 frequently to ignore the whole as unnecessary and super- 

 fluous. 



In giving the following hints on entomology as appli- 

 cable to fly-fishing, our aim is to sketch briefly and in- 

 telligibly the ordinary "standards," which are sufficiently 

 numerous, generally speaking, to attract the attention of 

 the fish when they put in an appearance. The numerical 

 strength of the flies out at one time may be said invari- 

 ably to determine the ardor with which the fish feed. 

 Thus, when the May-fly or March Brown are but scan- 

 tily "on," the Iron Blue Dun or Black Gnat, if preval- 

 ent, will kill infinitely better, simply because the whole 

 attention of the fish for the time being is centered upon 

 them, owing to their greater abundance. 



The flies that form food for fish may be divided into 

 two classes, viz., the Up-winged (Ephemeridce) and Flat- 

 winged (Phryganeidce, Muscidce, etc.) Of the latter there 

 are many varieties, part being of the water, as are the 

 whole of the first order, the Ephemeridce family. These 

 water flies are of the greatest use to the angler, as they 



* This is an open question as to Amp.rip.fln trout. 



