Chapter III. 



MAYFLIES, Scc.—EPHEMERIDM. 



Plate 3. 



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

 that it requires Httle attention here. It is remarkable for 

 its long sub-aquatic larval existence — usually stated as 

 three years, and then a life of proverbial shortness in 

 its perfect state, and such a life at that, hunted by fish 

 until it flies away, then pursued by chaffinches, fly 

 catchers, swaUows, 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 its ad- 

 vocates, 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. 



Fig. 32 is the Turkey Brown, and is used with success 

 in the North of England ; it is a very elegant insect, and 

 abundant about the end of April. 



39 



