102 THE COWDUNG-FLY. 



hackle ; tail- whisks, two brown hairs. To be 

 dressed on a No. 8 or 9 hook, with orange silk. 



The cowdung-jly. Body, yellow lamb's wool 

 mixed with a little brown mohair ; legs, ginger- 

 coloured hackle ; wings, from the wing-feather of a 

 landrail, to lie flat on the body, and be longer than 

 it. To be dressed with orange silk. A general 

 spring fly, but seldom killing except on windy 

 days. Of this fly Mr. Elaine observes, " It is 

 justly prized for its qualities, which are such as 

 deserve the highest commendation as a standard 

 and almost universal bait for all fly-taking fish. 

 If the weather be open it appears very early in 

 March, and is to be found of all sizes. This proves 

 advantageous to the angler, for if the water be 

 fine and low, he can use them as small as he 

 pleases without outraging nature. It is to be ob- 

 served, that as they are not aquatic, they are not 

 often seen on the water but when blown there ; 

 and consequently they are most successfully used 

 in blustering weather; and in the rivers of the 

 midland counties in particular, which are usually 

 skirted by grass fields, they are taken with great 

 eagerness at all hours throughout the whole fishing 

 season; but, as might be expected, in situations 

 where they are less indigenous, the imitation is 

 less freely taken. As they are so valuable, it is 

 of importance to dress them true to colour and 

 shape. The originals may be seen in clusters on 



