106 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 



day or hour. This inconsistency is mainly due to the 

 difficulty above noted of drawing correct inferences from 

 limited investigation, and under the varying influences 

 of the elements and seasons. 



The next in importance to the angler, of the four 

 different varieties of Up- winged water flies, are the Large 

 or Spring Browns, so-called from their being more preva- 

 lent in the earlier parts of the season. The first appear- 

 ance of this second species is the well-known March 

 Brown* of the northern and southern counties, and the 

 Dun Drake of the midlands, the streams of which dis- 

 trict produce this fly more freely than elsewhere. The 

 term Dun Drake, is applied, because it bears a con- 

 spicuous resemblance to the May-fly or Drake in point of 

 both size and attitude, being twice the size of an ordinary 

 dun. When these flies first ascend from the watery 

 depths they are eagerly absorbed by the feeding fish. 

 Though styled the March Brown, they are seldom up 

 before the beginning of April on most streams. After a 

 few weeks of genial weather, the fly becomes of lighter 

 hue, as in the case of the olive dun, but with this differ- 

 ence, that it perceptibly decreases in size. A strange 

 inaccuracy is credited in respect to the first change of 

 this fly. It is supposed to be the female brown, but that 

 is perfectly erroneous, as the difference in sex cannot be 

 distinguished until the final stage of existence, viz., that 

 of spinners, in which they propagate their species. The 

 spinners in this case are called the Great Reds, which are 

 numerous, more or less, just in proportion as their pre- 

 decessors, the large Browns, have been prevalent ; as is 

 also the case with the ordinary Red Spinners of the 

 Olive duns. In May the March Brown is recognized as 

 the Turkey Brown, f light and dark, in accordance with. 



* A standard fly in America. 



t Under this name, my favorite fly for black bass, is known on the 

 streams of Pennsylvania. It is usually tied on a No. 4 Sproat hook. 



