THE COMMON TROUT. 229 



a twist of gold. This fly is eagerly taken by chub 

 in the evenings of July. 



The little yellow May or willow fly resembles the 

 green drake, on a small scale. The body is formed 

 of yellow fur from the marten's neck, or of yellow 

 worsted unravelled, and mixed with a very small 

 portion of hare-ear fur ; the wings are of mallard's 

 feather dyed yellow. This fly appears early in 

 May, and may be used till the appearance of the 

 green drake, of which it is the usual precursor. 



The brown dun is made of otter's fur mixed with 

 lemon-coloured mohair; the wings are from the 

 fieldfare, with a ginger hackle for legs. This is an 

 excellent fly towards the approach of twilight. 



The green drake or May fly appears about the 

 second or third week of May, and continues about 

 a month. The body is made of hog's down, or 

 light bear's hair, intermixed with yellow mohair ; 

 or of barbers' yellow silk only, warped with pale 

 flos silk, and a small strip of peacock's harl for the 

 head : a bittern's hackle is the best imitation of 

 the legs and dark stripes of the body, with the 

 long hairs of the sable or polecat for the tail. The 

 rayed feathers of a wild mallard, dyed of a greenish 

 yellow, suffice for wings. 



The blue blow is a very small fly used during 

 the summer months, and for the first fortnight in 

 August. It is made of a lapwing's top, or any 

 dark blue fur, dressed on a very small hook. The 

 wings are of thistle-down or bluish-white hackle. 



The black midge is also a small species, the body 

 of which is dressed with brownish black silk, and a 



