THE WEATHER 



165 



difference in the combination of conditions which we 

 name the "day," and it may be that he is affected, not 

 directly, but through the medium of his food. Certain 

 states of weather, which elude analysis, interfere with 

 that process in the life-history of the fly known, I 

 understand, as the " hatch," and as the trout fails to 

 find the fly either mature on the surface of the water 

 or in its nymphal stage on its way towards it, he is 

 compelled to stay the cravings of appetite on what he 

 can gather on the bottom or among the weeds. The 

 explanation is not quite satisfactory ; the trout does not 

 rise to the natural fly, for the very sufficient reason that 

 there is no fly to rise to, but that need not render him 

 insensible to the angler's lure should it be brought 

 within his sight. It probably requires an abundance of 

 surface food to stimulate his palate and tempt him from 

 his habitual haunts in the mirky 

 depths of the water. A vagrant 

 insect is not worth his notice. 



No, a grey day does not neces- 

 sarily ensure the angler's happiness. 

 Not even on the southerly wind 

 and the cloudy sky he, like the 

 huntsman, beseeches of his gods. 



JT ^ 



