198 GLAUCUS; OE, 



luilike the brood which is out to-day on one's own 

 river. Tor not only do most of these flies vary in 

 colour in different soils and climates, but many of 

 them change their hue during life ; the Ephemerae, 

 especially, have a habit of throwing off the whole of 

 their skins (even, marvellously enough, to the skin of 

 the eyes and wings, and the delicate "whisks" at 

 their tail), and appearing in an utterly new garb 

 after ten minutes' rest, to the discomfiture of the 

 astonished angler. 



The natural history of these flies, I understand 

 from Mr. Stainton (one of our most distinguished 

 entomologists), has not yet been worked out, at 

 least for England. The only attemjDt, I believe, 

 in that direction is one made by a charming book, 

 " The Ely-fisher's Entomology,'' which should be 

 in every good angler's library ; but why should 

 not a few fishermen combine to work out the subject 

 for themselves, and study for the interests both of 

 science and their own sport, " The Wonders of the 

 Bank ? " The work, petty as it may seem, is much 

 too great for one man, so prodigal is Nature of her 



