SPIDERS, &C.—ARANEIDA, &c. 73 



Fig. 102 is a small green beetle, also found on the 

 ragwort with No. 101, and well worth imitation and 

 use. 



The ants are old favourites, and their use has been 

 advocated by almost all authors writing on artificial 

 flies, but we consider that the spiders and caterpillars 

 have not had the amount of attention bestowed upon 

 them which they deserve. 



Spiders are in evidence all through the season, 

 caterpillars are most in evidence during the latter part, 

 numbers of the Lepidoptera carry over the Winter by 

 hibernation in the larval stage and many are numbed 

 by the early Autumn frosts and fall from the marginal 

 plants into the water, and this doubtless accounts for 

 the eagerness with which grayling take a Bumble or 

 Woolly Caterpillar type of " fly." 



Every windy day numbers of them must drop on 

 the water, and being fat, juicy morsels, they are 

 immediately seized by trout, which get weary of 

 everlasting duns, stone flies, and other aquatic insects. 



A slight rise of water, and the fish become more 

 alert in anticipation of the coming flood and conse- 

 quent feast, and one of the first indications of a rising 

 water to the observant sportsman is the floating past 

 of the dead leaves and bits of stick. Closer observa- 

 tion will also reveal a number of the Wolf Spiders 

 trying to make the shore, and frequent plops of rising 

 fish close to the side, suggest that their efforts have 

 only succeeded in attracting the undesirable attention 

 of their enemies. 



