ARTIFICIAL FLIES. 607 



maining families in the section Neuroptera whose birth-place is 

 the water. The niajoritj are in the warmer latitudes. They have- 

 a preference for the waters where the temperature increases du- 

 ring the summer months. In springs and mountain streams the 

 larvae will be found hugging the bank and in shallow inlets. They 

 hibernate in the egg form, at least in the northern latitudes ; are 

 voracious predaceous feeders ; are sporting characters, whose life 

 at all times depends on their agility in pursuing and capturing 

 game. Their large size, as well as their habits in flying in pursuit 

 of food, keeping high over the water, will always prevent their 

 imitations being used successfully as bait on small streams. They 

 are rapid in their movements, but easily tire, and where there is a 

 large expanse of water their imitations can be used with good suc- 

 cess. In such waters there is always a larger sized class of fish, 

 making strong, heavy tackle essential. 



" The next family the section predominant in species, and each 

 species predominant in numbers, is the Phryganina — meaning a 

 fagot. For various reasons this family should claim the particular 

 attention of the fly-fisher. It belongs almost exclusively to the 

 northern latitudes, and particularly to that class of waters where 

 the trout and grayling delight to sport. From the numbers of 

 species, and their diversity of habits, they make their appearance 

 at all seasons. The imagines have a moth-like habitus, and are 

 called " stone flies," on account of their colors resembling stones. 

 Tlie wings are black-brown, black shading through the browns, 

 the brick colors, the luteous, until a creamy white is reached. The 

 eggs are inclosed in gelatinous capsules which swell in the water 

 and attach themselves to stones, sticks or vegetation. In this mass 

 the young live for some time after being excluded from the egg. 

 On leaving it they fasten around their body leaves, grass, or any 

 soft substance forming a padding, and then at their leisure build a 

 regular case around the whole, some spirally, others longitudinally, 

 of pieces of wood, grass, roots or branches of plants, gravels, stones, 

 shells, or any small and available substance found in the water, 

 adding on as they increase in growth or stature. The appearance 

 of these cases is as various as the species. Some take possession 

 of hollow reeds or straws ; others spin a case of silk exclusively. 

 These cases protect the abdomen, but are so large that they can 

 retreat entirely within when disturbed. They cling to them with 

 hooks at the extremity of the abdomen. Learned in hydrostatics 

 as they naturally should be, these cases are built with specific 

 gravity, such that it does not discommode them as they walk, or 

 buoy them to the surface. The few species in this family that are 

 predaceous do not live in cases, but take shelter under stones and 

 sticks, or spin a small web under some protection that they aban- 

 don at pleasure. When fully fed and ready to change to pupas, 

 they close their case with a grating, first fastening it securely to 



