ARTIFICIAL FLIES. 77 



fly ; still I liave found both to be killing flies, from the middle of May 

 to the close of June. Every angler who has fished in England and 

 Ireland knows of their surprisingly attractive qualities ; and that during 

 the "green drake month" the Trout reject every kind of artificial and 

 natural bait, for the " green or gray drake ;" and that at no period of 

 the Trout season are the fish so powerful, vigorous, and fine-flavored 

 as when this apparently luxurious and sanative food appears on the 

 streams and lakes. 



If I am correct in saying that it is not an American fly, and conse- 

 quently not an imitation of any existing American insect, and that it 

 is still a killing artificial bait on American waters, then the position 

 taken by some of the best anglers will hold to be true, that for the 

 purpose of successful fly-fishing, it is unnecessary to imitate the natu- 

 ral insect. 



It is necessary to say a word in relation to the mode of casting with 

 those flies. The green drake is thrown in the usual way ; but the 

 action of the gray drake being entirely different from the green, the 

 same mode of casting will not answer. Unlike the green drake, the 

 gray drake does not rest on the water. His light on the water is mo- 

 mentary — "no sooner on than off." Therefore, the artificial gray 

 drake should be thrown right over the Trout, and then lifted so as to 

 imitate the rise and fall of the natural fly. 



No. 9. The Cow-dung Fly. — Wings— T]i% feather of a landrail, 

 dressed a little longer than the body, to lie flat on the back. Body— 

 Yellow wool, with a little brown fur, to give the body a dirty orange 

 color ; the body tolerably full. Legs — Ginger hackle, same color as 

 the body. Hook— 'No. 6, 7, or 8. 



This is my favorite fly. As a standard and universal fly-bait for 

 Trout, I think that the Cow-dung should stand "A. No. 1." It is not 

 much known to American anglers, and is rarely used on American 

 waters. 



The origin of the fly is not aquatic. It is found on the excrement 

 of animals, particularly on that of the cow. In windy weather it is 

 blown from the land to tho water ; and no bait is more greedily seized 

 by the Trout. In March and April I use it as a tail-fly ; in May and 

 June as a dropper ; and in July and August as a hand-fly. I regulate 



