118 SPIDER AND GKAVEL-FLIES. 



The spider-fly, or Harry long-legs. There are 

 three sorts of this insect, large, middle, and small- 

 sized, the latter being called the gravel-fly or 

 gravel-bed. They will kill on windy days, the 

 water being low, throughout the spring or sum- 

 mer months. The large fly is dressed thus: 

 Body, a mixture of brown and dun fur, dressed 

 long and thin on a No. 5 hook ; wings, mottled 

 feather of a partridge, long and fine ; legs, two 

 turns of a long, thin-fibred dark dun hackle. The 

 middle-sized fly is thus dressed : body and legs 

 the same as the former, but shorter and thinner on 

 a No. 6 or 7 hook ; wings, hen black-bird's wing- 

 feather, long and slight. The small spider or 

 gravel-fly is imitated thus : wings, the largest 

 fibres of the snipe's wing- feather, to lie long and 

 nearly flat ; body, simply lead-coloured silk ; 

 legs, one turn of a dark dun hackle. Hook, No. 

 9 and 10. This last insect does not last so long 

 as the two others ; its best season being from the 

 middle of April to the end of May. 



Mr. Bainbridge observes, "The gravel or 

 spicier fly is first seen about the middle of April, 

 at which time the gravel in which these insects 

 are bred is covered by incalculable numbers of 

 them. They are extremely delicate, and not 

 often visible on cold days ; at which times, how- 

 ever, success is more probable with this fly than 

 when they are to be found in such vast numbers. 



