CHAPTER III. 



MAY FLIES, $i.Q.— EPHEMERA. 



Plate 3. 



The Green Drake (fig. 29) is so well known to 

 anglers that it requires little attention here. It is 

 remarkable for its long sub-aquatic larval existence — 

 usually stated as three years, and then a life of pro- 

 verbial shortness in its perfect state, and such a life at 

 that, hunted by fish until it flies away, then pursued 

 by chaffinches, fly catchers, swallows, and a dozen 

 other members of the feathered tribe. What with the 

 pollution of our rivers, and its multitude of natural 

 enemies, this fly is, we fear, doomed to extinction. 

 Good floating imitations of the species have probably 

 accounted for some of the largest trout which have 

 been taken with the artificial fly. 



The Dark Drake (fig. 30) is not considered as 

 generally successful a lure as the Green Drake, though 

 it has it advocates, and on a dull windy day we prefer 

 it to its brighter companion. 



The Yellow Drake (fig. 31) is a beautiful insect, 

 we have seen it rising in numbers on the Tanat and 

 Vyrnwy in the late summer and autumn, and it is 

 taken greedily by both trout and grayling. 



