DIPPING-BAITS. 121 



over a hoop, and transfer them from under it as adroitly 

 as possible, one by one, into a horn bunged at the large 

 end with wood, and perforated with a few small air- 

 holes. The small end should be closed with a cork, 

 which, when raised slightly and with due caution, will 

 allow a single fly to come forth at a time, as they 

 are all anxious to escape from their prison, and will 

 readily creep out of their own accord, whenever the cork 

 is withdrawn. If a box be used, instead of a receptacle 

 of the above description, the whole fleet of these lively 

 gentry will unceremoniously go off, like a whiff of 

 smoke, the moment the lid is raised. 



Grasshoppers form also excellent natural baits, and 

 may either be dipped with on the surface, or sunk to 

 mid-water, by placing a shot pellet of sufficient weight 

 eight or ten inches above the hook ; when they will 

 be greedily taken. 



Grasshoppers may be met with on any dry grassy 

 bank facing the sun, between the months of June and 

 September. The middle-sized and greenest ones are 

 the best. They may be carried in a wooden box, wide 

 at the bottom, and narrow at the top, with a sliding 

 lid ; by withdrawing which a little, so as to admit the 

 light, they will readily creep out, one at a time. In 

 baiting with these, the hook must be stuck transversely 

 across the middle of the thorax ; or be entered under 

 the head, and lodged in the body. They may also be 

 preserved for any length of time in the bark case re- 

 commended for caddies. 



Beetles. Any of the common black or brown beetles 

 G 



