KILL AND WHEN THEY DO NOT. ' 55 



Whilst making these incipient preparations for 

 ephemeral enjoyment, it is seen by the fish, and 

 frequently checked at the outset of its career. 

 The fly-maker cannot imitate these acts of the 

 fly, so apparent to fish in sunny weather, and hence 

 the little success attending the artificial green 

 drake at such a time. 



The above famous fly, so common in the rivers 

 of the midland, the western, and the southern 

 counties of England, is not so common in the 

 north, is rare and even unknown in many of the 

 best rivers of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. It 

 would be in vain to fish with it there, which 

 proves again that the common trout, at any rate, 

 will not rise at nondescript things, which instinct 

 informs them bear no resemblance to their natural 

 food. Gnats and midges are to be found every 

 where throughout the kingdom, especially in 

 summer, and hence the different sorts of dun 

 artificials, intended to be imitations of those in- 

 sects, are good general flies in every part of the 

 empire. Artificial palmers, which are imitations 

 of caterpillars of different sizes and colours are 

 common to the rivers of the British isles, and 

 are therefore good baits, perhaps the best general 

 ones, except in those months when the living 

 caterpillar does not exist. 



After what I have now written, it will be ap- 

 parent to every one that I am in favour of close 



E 4 



