14 INTRODUCTION. 



an exceedingly handsome fly is the Ruby-tailed Wasp, or Fire- 

 tail {Chrysis Ignitd), plate 8, fig. 85, and there is a similar fly 

 (C ;'«(^zV) about half the size. One often wonders at fly tiers 

 making " fancy " flies, when there are in nature such 

 magnificent examples to be copied. These two flies are said 

 to be enemies of the common wasp, preying on their larvae ; 

 laying their own eggs in the comb of the wasp ; their larvae 

 eating the wasp grubs. 



Plate 8, figs. 78, 79, shew nematiis niger and netitatus 

 lucidus, two very common flies, the former much in evidence 

 in the spring time, and the latter practically all the season. 



Early writers on fishing flies all give the hawthorn fly 

 {Bibio marci) Plate 2, fig. 20, as one of importance, but we 

 think nematus niger is much more widely distributed, and 

 abundant at the waterside ; we believe it is at times mistaken 

 for and erroneously called the hawthorn fly. 



Plate 8, Fig. 84, the small Sand Wasp [Allantus arcuatus) 

 is always found when the cochy-bondhu is moving, and 

 frequently side by side on the same hemlock or other flower. 



The Ichneumon flies have no special mission to perform 

 about the water, but are frequently to be seen floating "spent" 

 on the surface ; plate 8, fig. 83, &c. 



III. The Coleoptera, or beetles; insects of this order are 

 readily distinguished by means of their horny wing cases or 

 elytra in combination with their strong antennae and heavy legs. 



On plate 5 are shown five of the most useful ; the first is a 

 fairly common brown beetle (Serica Brunnea), useful for 

 dibbing with, and taken by large trout and chub with avidity. 

 At first glance it is recognized as a small Cockchafer. 



Plate 7, fig. 67, is the small cowdung beetle {Ophodius 

 Fcetens), which is taken with avidity at all times by trout. 

 No. 68 is the "Soldier Beetle" {Telephorus lividus). The 

 soldier is found in hundreds on hemlock and similar flowers, 

 flying about and dropping on the water in the sunshine. It 



