268 FLIES AND KNOTS. 



legs. The orange dun, with a body tinged with brown, 

 would be a good imitation. 



The next natural fly, which is smaller than the last, is 

 of a greenish yellow, and is also caricatured by the cow- 

 dung. ' But it is decidedly recommended to make a more 

 faithful copy, which the writer has done with eminent 

 success. In speaking of this matter, it is important to 

 add that the midges, such as the black gnat and others, 

 are out earlier, and it is to the larger flies alone that 

 reference is made. The earliest of the species mentioned 

 appears in ordinary seasons about the first of March, and 

 the next about a week later. At this period, and at all 

 periods, of a bright day a large black gnat with black 

 hackle, black or dark blue body, silver tinsel at the tail, 

 and dark wings, is usually successful. 



Shortly after the greenish fly, come many others, 

 appearing almost together, and among them the cow- 

 dung and the yellow sally, the latter occasionally fairly 

 covering the water. About this time the professor an 

 swers well, although I have never discovered its proto- 

 type, if it has any, and shortly afterward an unimitated 

 brown fly, together with the blue blow and cinnamon, and 

 in warm weather innumerable others. Li the latter part 

 of April and early part of May, the bushes and streams 

 are alive with the gay little beauties, of every color, size 

 and shape, and the fish make them their principal food. 

 But the waters are growing clear, the deception is becom- 

 ing apparent to the fish's eye, and the insects, though in 

 reality larger, must have more delicate substitutes. At 

 such times a small red bodied fly, with dun wings, has 

 proved extremely killing, and although large, white, 



