218 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 



The experienced would naturally suppose that a copy of 

 the insect at rest, in correct attitude, would be the thing 

 to fish with; but owing to the incessant struggles of the 

 " natural " when on the water, this would practically 

 prove a great mistake. Most land flies flutter conspicu- 

 ously when upon the water, causing a ripple which is not 

 infrequently taken for the rise of a fish. The Willow 

 and Needle flies are also great favorites with these fish, 

 and when sufficiently prevalent are the centre of attrac- 

 tion for the time being. The Little Pale Blue (Septem- 

 ber shade of the Iron Blue), like all little ephemerals, is 

 fully appreciated throughout the autumn. These flies 

 appear upon bright days, and are general flies upon every 

 trout and grayling stream. The temperature of the 

 weather and water being now similar to that of May, the 

 Duns common to that month are again prevalent, 

 and are useful for the capture of trout and grayling. 

 The whole of the foregoing flies are seasonable "natu- 

 rals." 



There may be days, however, upon which none 

 of these may be out, when the fly-fisher has to fall back 

 upon what are designated " fancy " flies, the chief and 

 foremost of which are the palmer-dressings, known as the 

 Tassel fly or Bumble. These are constructed in many 

 shades, ranging from the blue -white ordinary dressing to 

 the dark furnace or black red one. The Honey Dun, 

 the Red, and the Common Bumble, are the best for 

 autumn fishing. Tag-tailed artificials are also used to 

 tempt the fastidious fish, being hackled flies with a tuft 

 of wool or feather at the tail, after the fashion of a 

 salmon fly; but fly-fishing for grayling cannot be said to 

 be usually lucrative when the fish are not on the rise. 

 The food of the grayling consists of aerial and aquatic 

 insects and their larvge, small worms, grubs, etc. 

 Amongst the contents of their stomachs are also small 

 shells and pebbles; these latter, we doubt not, aro taken 



