214 THE SCIENTIFIC AKGLER. 



the banks. The Caterpillar, both as a mid-day and 

 night fly, may bo used with success, seasonable weather 

 prevailing. The best evening flies are the Greentail or 

 Grannum, Golden Dun, the Spinners, and the Interme- 

 diate. The last is a representation of the fluttering atti- 

 tude of a dun during the transformation scene, when it 

 slips from its old covering, or skin, and re-appears more 

 delicately graceful and fragile than before. The fish are 

 especially partial to the up-winged naturals when in this 

 temporary transitory stage, for which there may be many 

 reasons, the most important being that the metamor- 

 phosis always, or nearly so, takes place upon the top of 

 the water, and therefore within reach of the feeding fish, 

 which, it is well known, show a marked partiality for 

 deformed or distressed prey, inasmuch as they will seize 

 the sickly little fish, or a copy of one, from amongst a 

 shoal of perfect fish, almost any one of which was in 

 their power. 



The Red and Black Ants, Gray Gnat, and Wren-Tail, 

 are to be seen upon the water on bright days, the small 

 flies being then abundant. These are essentially mid- 

 day flies, the larger species being numerous towards even- 

 ing. When the fish are feeding upon small "naturals," 

 the contents of the stomach of the fish taken should be 

 examined, so as to ascertain correctly the taking fly. 

 Sometimes this is discerned by an inspection of the 

 tongue only, especially when the fish are feeding well. 



About the 10th of this month, the August shade of 

 the Large Browns (August Dun) comes upon the water; 

 north of the Midlands it is much later. This fly, 

 in common with the duns, seeks the shelter of the 

 neighboring foliage immediately upon rising from the 

 bed of the river, venturing forth about sunset. This, 

 and the light Turkey Brown shade, are to be used with 

 signal success until the fisherman can no longer see to 

 manage his line. The March Brown, dressed a size or so 



