226 ANGLING. 



The following flies are in repute among anglers. 

 The black gnat is supposed to appear about the end 

 of April. The body is formed of a black strip from 

 an ostrich feather, and ought to be dressed thick 

 and short ; the wings of a pale starling's feather, 

 or dressed as a hackle with a pale dun. 



The March brown or dun drake is said to be 

 visible by the middle of March. The wings are 

 made from the mottled feathers of a partridge's tail, 

 and the body of hare-ear fur, intermixed with a 

 little yellow worsted ; a grizzled hackle for legs. 



The hazel fly, so called, is of a rounder form, and 

 is a killing lure in May and June, especially where 

 bushes abound. The body is composed of ostrich 

 harl of two colours, black and purple twisted to- 

 gether ; the wings of the sandy-coloured feathers 

 from under the wings of a thrush, or the reddish 

 plumes of a partridge's tail ; a bluish hackle, 

 twisted pretty full, serves both for the under wings 

 and legs. 



The great dark dun, according to Mr. Bain- 

 bridge, is one of the earliest flies which appear upon 

 the water, and may be used in February, if the 

 weather is mild. The wings are formed from the 

 dun feathers of a mallard's wing ; the body of 

 mole-fur, mixed with a little dark brown mohair ; 

 a dark grizzled hackle for legs. Salmon frequently 

 rise at this fly, which may be used with success early 

 in the morning during the whole fishing season. 



The wren's tail has no wings : the body is of 

 sable fur, with a little gold-coloured mohair, and a 

 feather from the tail of a wren. 



