JULY FLIES 169 



picked out for the legs on a grizzled blue dun hackle may be 

 used ; wings also full and little starling for the under wing, 

 and corncrake over it. 



The Caper er is another fly of the same class as the last. It is 

 a large fly, and comes out towards evening, its motions as it 

 flits up and down, from the bank to the water, justifying its 

 name. There is a smaller fly of the same kind called the skip- 

 jack. It is dressed upon a No. 7 or 8 hook, some using it of 

 even larger size. Two turns of gold twist at the tail ; body, 

 brownish rusty red mohair ; legs, red cock's hackle, not too 

 dark ; wings, the marbled portion of the hen pheasant's wing 

 feather. It is in great request in the midland counties, especi- 

 ally on the Kennett, and I am sure would make a capital lake 

 trout fly. 



The flies necessary for June are the green and grey drakes, 

 the sedge and alder being great holdfasts. Duns and spinners, 

 already noted, abound, and must not be neglected. The fcetid 

 brown and caperer should have a place in the book as a change 

 with the alder and sedge for evenings. The coch y bondu, of 

 course, and the fern fly sometimes will be useful. Midges must 

 have a place ; though seldom very useful now, they do later on. 



JULY. The Red and Black Ants are very favourite flies 

 during July : they are of course more plentiful on some waters, 

 and during some seasons, than others. 



The Red Ant should be tied on a No. 8, 9, or 10 hook. The 

 body of peacock herl, left au naturel as regards the lower or 

 tail half, and tied in at the waist with copper-coloured silk ; 

 the legs, a red cock's hackle, and wings of the light shining 

 part of a starling's feather. 



The Black Ant should be tied similarly, save that the body 

 should be composed of black ostrich and peacock herl mixed 

 and tied in at the waist, with black silk ; legs black cock's 

 hackle, and wings of the darker portion of the starling's feather. 



The House Fly. There is a fly very similar in appearance 

 to the house fly, but I do not think it is the same being less 

 neat and more ragged in its appearance than the house fly, 

 looking rather, if I may use the expression, like a dissipated 

 house fly out of luck which is found in the fields, and a good 

 deal by the river side, and on the water during the warm 

 months. It may at times be used with great advantage, when 

 other flies fail ; and I have had good sport with it. It is so 

 similar to the house fly, that one dressing will serve both. 

 Hook, No. 9, body fat, and of two or three strands of any 



