116 ON HACKLES. 



if they do not succeed he grows impatient, and tries 

 changes, continuing very restless until he can feel or 

 see the fish, which he can do if they stir with electric 

 quicknes. When the fish are roused to feed (which 

 they are, more or less, every fishing day) Walbran 

 seems rivited to the streams, and deceives the fish with 

 his imitations of the food they are feeding off; he 

 throws his well dissembled fly on the waters, to take 

 its chance among its living likenesses, and does his 

 work while the fish are doing theirs. 



Among the many varieties of insects that haunt or 

 come by chance upon the waters, the ear wig tribes 

 may claim the attention of the flyfisher. There are 

 many species of them, all of the same shape and con- 

 struction, running in length from less than a quarter to 

 an inch. They are bred on land, and are very quick 

 on both legs and wings. Their bodies are smooth, 

 shelly, and bright, and have the appearance of small 

 reptiles. They have a pair of short husky wings or 

 flappers on the shoulders, which fold over a pair of fine 

 soft wings that are never seen but when unfurled for 

 flight ; which the insect can quickly replace with two 

 or three jerks with its tail. Their colors vary, like 

 those of the hairy worms red, brown, black, grey, 

 etc. but black is the most common; some with short 

 gilded reflections and amber tinges. They are numer- 

 ous the three last months of the season. In October 

 many were found in the stomach of a fine grayling, 

 black, and about three-eighths in length. They may 

 be found on the water or flying about, and oft seen, on 

 fine days, on the battlements of bridges. Their smooth 

 and shiny bodies may be imitated with floss silk, gold 



