92 THE DRY-FLY MAN'S HANDBOOK 



females are ovipositing a fish rising quietly may well 



be feeding on them. Under 

 Spinners in May. such conditions, if one cannot 



secure a few specimens so as 

 to identify them the choice of a fly calls for some 

 consideration. The species of duns which were most 

 plentiful earlier are those likely to have assumed the 

 imago dress, and their spinners are likely to be now 

 engaged in the act of oviposition. There are quite a 

 number to select from as olive, iron-blue, and pale 

 watery duns have probably all been en evidence. The 

 patterns representing the females of these in the 

 perfect stage should be tried first. Nos. 12 and 13 

 of the new patterns being female olive. No. 21 female 

 iron-blue, and No. 17 female pale watery spinners. 

 Of the old standards the olive badger, the various 

 patterns of red spinner, red quill, and detached badger 

 are the best, but not very good, imitations of these 

 spinners. 



Very occasionally the male spinners are on the 

 water and are preferred by the fish. The males, 

 which as before noted largely outnumber the females, 

 are very prominent in the air, and when the angler is 

 nonplussed he may try their imitations. It must be 

 remembered, however, that every female soon after 

 oviposition falls on the water, while the males, 

 being polygamous, still continue their curious danse 

 d'amour in the air, and are available for their share of 

 I the work of fertilizing the eggs of another brood. 

 Nos. 1 1, ,20, and 16 are the male olive, iron-blue and 



