26 CRANE-FLIES AND GNATS. 



using two fine whole cock hackle points for the purpose ; 

 those of a pure grey blue or with a slight speckle are 

 usually as near to nature as can be obtained. 



If the contents of the stomach of trout and grayling 

 be examined, many specimens of flies are found, but 

 very frequently thousands of Gnats and Gnat larvae are 

 the principal contents. 



If the fish are rising freely the fly should be used 

 dry, or at any rate fished near the surface ; if, on the 

 other hand, they are bulging and feeding on the larvae, 

 a sunk fly is more useful and efficacious, especially if 

 dressed long in hackle and fished " lively " in the water. 



Generally speaking, the early season brings forth 

 dark coloured Gnats, and then, as the brighter, warmer 

 weather comes on, those of the lighter and brighter 

 colours become more abundant. 



Plate 1 gives nine figures of fairly assorted colours, 

 and each pattern given is the result of observation, careful 

 selection, and experience. All the Gnats are drawn from 

 life, and the artificials from patterns of proved merit. 



All Gnats have cilia or fine hair-like processes on 

 the body, hence the use of tinsel, as described in the 

 chapter on materials. 



There are many more Gnats and small Crane-flies 

 than those we have described (about 400 in all), but 

 the object of this book is to present a selection of the 

 most useful and representative members of each class, 

 not to enter into an exhaustive treatise on the infinite 

 varieties of nature, which would only complicate 

 matters and be of no practical use to the angler. 



