64 FISHING GOSSIP. 



to the surface of the water, almost instantaneously 

 assumes the pseudimago or green drake form, and 

 makes shift to fly to the bank, alighting on a bush, 

 stone, rush-stem, or any appropriate object, not re- 

 jecting a man's hat or arm. The bathing-robe, if it 

 may so be termed, is still upon the insect ; the thin 

 membranous pellicle, that protected its full dress 

 from the water, still enfolds it. But, in a few 

 seconds after alighting, the case seems to split up the 

 centre, the wings are unfolded and drawn out of their 

 covering as a lady takes off her glove, and the insect 

 flies off in full bridal dress to seek its appointed 

 mate. The aerial nuptials being consummated, the 

 female drops in the water, lays her eggs, and dies 

 from exhaustion, if not snapped up by bird or fish. 

 The male hovers at a higher altitude over the water ; 

 being destitute of eggs, and inflated with air, the 

 fish care little about him, and thus he obtains from 

 the Oxfordshire anglers the opprobious epithet of 

 bastard. 



The astonishing number of Ephemeridae that start 

 into existence in the space of a few hours is almost 

 incredible. Eeaumur thus describes a scene of this 

 kind he witnessed on the banks of the Marne : 



" The myriads of Ephemerae which filled the air over the 

 current of the river, and over the bank on which I stood, are 

 neither to be expressed nor conceived. When the snow falls 

 with the largest flakes, and with the least interval between 



