108 THE PALMER-HACKLES. 



rally led to expect it : for as every tree and every 

 bush which overhangs the water teems with one 

 or more varieties of larva?, which must be con- 

 stantly liable to fall into it ; and as from their 

 natural plumpness of figure they must form a 

 delicious morsel, we need not wonder that the fish 

 are always ready to receive them, unless something 

 more tempting (as when particular favourite flies 

 are on the water) is at hand to attract their atten- 

 tion. As these Iarva3 are continually appearing 

 in endless succession, so palmers are used to ad- 

 vantage from March until the latest period of fly- 

 fishing or at least until October. In May, June, 

 July, and August, they are however in the 

 greatest request. When the innumerable varia- 

 tions in the size, form, and colour of the larva? of 

 insects are considered, it is evident that the direc- 

 tions in our angling books to confine the number 

 of palmers to three, four, or five are limited in the 

 extreme ; but it is still more erroneous to confine 

 their size to a No. 6. hook. On the contrary, 

 there is such an endless number of them, each dif- 

 ferent from the other, that the dresser may vary 

 them in any way he pleases with effect, tying them 

 on hooks from No. 4. to No. 9., but keeping 

 these general principles in view, that when the 

 water is fine and low, they should be dressed 

 small, and sober in their tone of colour ; but when 

 used on waters which are disturbed, and the day 



