170 SALMON AND TROUT, 
swallow from above and a trout from below dart upon the 
same May fly: down came the swallow, and up came the open 
mouth of the trout, into which, in pursuit of its prey, the 
swallow pitched its head. The struggle to get separated was 
short, but severe ; and the swallow was twice immersed, wings 
and all, before it disentangled itself from the teeth of the 
trout. I have myself known both swallows and bats to take the 
artificial fly, and after an aerial combat to be ultimately netted 
secundum artem. 
Although Ephemera vulgaris has been called the May, or 
‘Day,’ fly—in common with its congeners, and, indeed, insects of 
all kinds, it appears in greater numbers and exhibits increased 
activity towards sunset. This, consequently, is usually the best 
time for taking trout with the artificial fly, and especially 
for the heavy fish, which until then lie concealed amongst 
roots, under deep holes, and in other similar shelters. The 
‘next best’ time is during the first freshness of the morning, 
before the sun gets much power. 
The fly fisher, in fact, cannot be too early or too late at the 
water ; and I have often killed the best fish of the day when it 
was so dark that I could hardly see my rod, and had entirely 
lost sight of my flies. At both these times larger sized flies 
may be used than at others. Small flies are preferable on hot 
windless days, or when the water is bright and low. When 
water is much discoloured with rain so as to become.opaque, 
fly fishing is useless). The two golden maxims are, first, to 
keep as far from the bank, and as much out of sight as pos- 
sible ; and, secondly, always to use finer tackle than anyone 
else on the river—and (your skill being equal) you will always 
catch the most fish. 
The latter end of October or November, and thence up to 
the beginning of February, is the usual spawning time of 
trout—the operation, however, in each particular fish con- 
tinuing only about eight days ; and at this period the under 
jaw in old males exhibits in a modified degree the elongation 
and upward curving characteristic of the male salmon at the 
