137 



TROUT FLIES. 



I here give a selection of a, few that I have ever found 

 to he good killing ones. As I have remarked in another 

 place, I copy nature as nearly as I can, and it is what I 

 am particularly fond of. I could sit all day and make flies- 

 1 catch the natural fly, and with my magnifying glass view 

 the different colours, and, as near as possible copy them. 

 I am of opinion, that the water acts as a magnifier on tlie 

 vision of the fish : else, why do the salmon and the large 

 sized trout rise at the small midge fly ? I may be wrong, 

 but such is my opinion. This fly is scarcely larger than a 

 pin's head, and yet we find the fish rise eagerly at them. 

 It cannot be from any nourishment they receive ; — but even 

 here comes diversity of opinion. I have read lately, that 

 fish of the same weight were kept in a confined water ; 

 one portion were fed on worms and such like food ; the 

 others on flies alone. After a few months they were taken 

 out and -weighed; and the result was greatly in favour of 

 those fed on flies alone. I do not wish to dispute the mat- 

 ter, but would only remark, that it appears very singular. 

 This is mere speculation, and apart from our subject. 



No. 1. The red hackle and red palmer are flies that 

 invariably kill in the early seasons. 



No. 2. The Dun Fly — bittern wing, brown body, and 

 red hackle ; tinsel gold. 



No. 3. Brown Fly, for June — English partridge wing ; 

 body, brown mohair ; red hackle, twist of gieen peacock's 

 herl. 



No. 4. Grey Drake wing, black body and hackle, with 

 silver tinsel. 



