SUBAQUEOUS HAPPENINGS IN NATURE ii 



becomes more numerous, escaping units, first in 

 sparse, then in increasing numbers, reach the sur- 

 face, burst their swathing envelopes, and spread 

 their canvas to the gales as subimagines. Pres- 

 ently the trout find attention to the winged fly 

 more advantageous — as presenting more food, or 

 food obtained with less exertion than the nymphs 

 — and turn themselves to it in earnest. This is 

 the second stage. Often it is much deferred. Con- 

 ditions of which we know nothing keep back the 

 hatch, perhaps send many of the nymphs back to 

 cover to await a more favourable opportunity 

 another day ; so it occasionally happens that, 

 while the river seems mad with bulging fish, the 

 hatch of fly that follows or partly coincides with 

 this orgy is insignificant. But, good, bad, or in- 

 different, it measures the extent of the dry-fly 

 purist's opportunity. 



Good, bad, or indifferent, it presently peters 

 out, and at times with startling suddenness all the 

 life and movement imparted to the surface by the 

 rings of rising fish are gone, and it would be easy 

 for one who knew not the river to say : " There 

 are no trout in it." For all that, there are pretty 

 sure to be left a sprinkling, often more than a 

 sprinkling, of unsatisfied fish which are willing to 

 feed, and can be caught if the angler knows how ; 

 and these will hang about for a while until they, 

 too, give up in despair and go home, or seek con- 

 solation in tailing. Often these will take a dry 



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