PISCATORIAL PROLUSIONS.— (Continued fhom Paoe 54 
By the Hahpsoibe Fly-Fisueu. 
Atril. 
1. It appears as the Yellow Dun of Ronalds, and in cold 
days ns the Iron Blue Dun, as Ephemera’s Blue Blow, 
and Carshulton Cocktail. j„ t o the°colour, which°becomes a darkish preen or dark 
In May and the succeeding months it has still dilterent o(ive rj.j lcn comPS the Mareh Brown (still the same Genus, 
mearances and forms under different nafries ; but there . , , T?„ m :i,A ...lilnli a decided tinee of vellow i6 
api)oarancos and forms under different nabies ; but there 
are very many reasons why these numerous varieties will not 
be pursued here. One is, that they have been noticed under 
the heads of the different months ; another, that to follow it 
up here would interrupt my argument. Now, among other 
things, this analysis of Mr. Ronalds’ work, which is the basis 
of the theory which I have to suggest, teaches us that the 
water flies predominate in number over the land flies in the 
ratio of 30 to 12, or nearly 3 to I. If we add to this, that 
the supply of water flies is constant, and that of flies from 
the land depends on a variety of circumstances, it will be no 
wild calculation to say that it is 3 to 1 in favour of the fishes 
feeding on the water fly in preference to the land fly, and 
consequently of being deceived by a careful imitation of that 
which ho is taking. But a problem remains to he solved. 
Of many variations of the same water fly, which is to be 
relied oii for success? And this will very often, in the 
absence of anv fixed rule or guide, be no slight diffi- 
culty. If, indeed, the day be still, and the flies stirring 
on the water, and the fish feeding greedily, it will be 
comparatively easy. Every one has eyes and can see ; and 
in this case there will be at least some guide to go by. 
But if the day be cold and cheerless, and very little or 
no fly up, and vou are fishing on the weather bank with a 
strong wind, and the flies are all blown to leeward, so that 
it is difficult to catch them, the fisherman must have recourse 
to other sources of knowledge. He must fall back upon bis 
observations of Nature; and Nature, if you will only trust 
to and he guided by her. will not fail her votaries. My old 
friend Delabere Blaine, whose accuracy and sc ientific acquire- 
ments are of the highest order, in his Cyclopaedia, seems to 
have partially arrived at what I conceive to be the grand 
Kecre t — namely, the existence of certain families of insects in 
uninterrupted succession, but varying in colour with the 
different changes of the season, nay, of atmospheric tem- 
perature. But he does not appear to have thoroughly 
developed the idea, or based any theory on it. He observed, 
us I have done, the recurrence and succession of certain 
ephemeral insects, which he comprehended under the head 
Duns. This may be a popular, but it is noither a scientific 
nor a satisfactory name, for many reasons, although it seems 
to have been generally accepted. In some of them, indeed, 
there is not the slightest trace of what is commonly understood 
by the name Dun. Again, instead of considering the Blue Dun, 
Yellow Dun, See., as different branches of one and the same 
family, or rather the same insect differently developed and 
under different circumstances, he seems to have treated them 
as distinct tribes or classes. In this he certainly is not borne 
out by Mr. Ronalds, and Mr. Ronalds’ opinion is entitled to 
the greatest weight. I know, indeed, that on a recent oc- 
casion Mr. Spence, the most scientific entomologist of the 
day, was applied to for some information on the subject, and 
he, without hesitation, referred the querist to Ronalds’ 
book as the best authority. I think, indeed, if necessary, 
I could easily, by reference to it, show bow Mr. Blaines 
error — jf jt be an error — arose. But be this as it may, Mr. 
Blaine appears to have been the first person who called the 
attention, whether of the naturalist or the fly-fLher, to the 
various changes in the hues of this insect which occur as 
the season advances, and which would seem to be based 
almost upou certain ascertained principles of light and beat, 
and the gradations of which are beautifully exemplified by 
a prism, in the divisions of a ray of light, beginning with 
the deepest indigo, and ascending to the most brilliant yel- 
low. He says : “ In the early spring months the predomi- 
nating colour of tho winged insects which aro seen near the 
water is almost black. The Early Duns are of a very dark 
olive, whoso occasional varieties, as the season advances, 
assume a lighter brown, while others shine in a heavy blue, 
until at length yellow, orange, or crimson deck the former, 
and pale blue the latter, intermixed with others apparently 
compounded between these. With one exception, that of 
the Bluo Blow, the Ephemera appear invariably to become 
of a lighter huo as warmth and light increase, and we see 
tho Summer Duns dressed in bright yellow, orange, red, and 
crimson. From these fresh reluys appear, and os the season 
advances (Query, declines?) these again assume the grudatory 
shades of red, brown, violet, and claret-colour”— lie might 
have added, dying away into the cold leaden hue, and almost 
black. He goes on thus: “The daily appearance of the 
Ephemeru, as well as the colour they shine in, is also under 
the influence of times and seasons The 
Whirling Duti thus revels in the gale, tho Red Spinner 
dances in the sunny beam, and the Blue Blow braves the 
chilling day.” , 
If, indeed, I might be permitted to do so without being 
called captious, while I fully admit the accurate observation 
that distinguishes this paper, I would make two observations 
on it before I return to my own view of this very interesting 
subject. The first is, that the Blue Blow is “ a variety of a 
specie.-,” and not “ a species” or “tribe ;” secondly, that it is 
a mistake to suppose that the Whirling Dun exercises an act 
of volition iD choosing the gale for its frolics. The insect, 
indeed, is the passive, and not the active party. It is the 
chill wind that wraps the poor shivering water fly in the 
dull cloak of leaden purple or cold indigo which distinguishes 
the Whirling Dun or Blue Blow when skies ore dark and 
winds loud and shrill, and the genial warmth of the day that 
clothes the Red Spinner in his gorgeous array of scarlet and 
gold, and sends him forth, like some young guardsman, to 
sport his new uniform on the sunny side of St. James - 
street. The difference is obvious, but^it is very important 
to my theory. 
It, indeed, this be'true, we shall have, as it seems to me, 
advanced one great step — we shall huve ascertained that there 
is one insect common to all waters — that is, all waters in 
the tame latitude, living at all times of the year, but vary- 
ing in colour, and slightly, perhaps, in other external u PP ear_ 
ances, with the changes of season and temperature. And we 
Lave in these very ebangea a key whereby to guide us in 
THE FIELD. 
the observation of these appearances ; we know also when to 
look for them ; and it will not require much study to lead us 
to a correct and practical application of it. It is a very 
simple one. The same insect is on tho water every day in 
the year, in a different and ever-changing dress. The colder 
the day, the darker the insect; the warmer, the brighter. 
Let ue try the theory by actual observation. 
The earliest water fly, or rather the earliest dress in which 
this universal fly makes his appearance, is that which is 
commonly called tho Hare’s Ear. 1 believe I might venture 
to assert, that it would be found not only in January, but 
•von some cold days in December. If the temperature be mora 
genial, an Insect of the same Genus, Order, and Family, but 
wearing a warmer tint, makes its appearance. Thi6 is the 
Light Hare’s Ear. Lftter in the year, but still in the very- 
beginning of the spring, a certain portion of yellow enters 
[Saturday, 
HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE, 1864. 
HORN. EV 
Mur. 4. Saturday 0.23 0-39 
„ n, Sunday 0.66 6.16 
6, Monday 0.31 6.51 
„ 7, Tuesday 7.12 7.35 
MOI1N, 
IV. H. 
Mar. fi, Wednesday.... & s 
„ 9, Thursday u 
„ lo, Friday.... 
„ 11, Saturday. 
m* 
n-M. 
. 9 . 33 ...::;,;^ 
: o.w.'.'.'.v/oS 
To nun II ion Water at the subjoined places, take the above time at London 
Bridge, and add or subtract the time in the following Table. 
Order, nud Family), in which a decided tinge of yellow is 
to be observed. From this time the portion of brown which 
was blended with the lead colour of the Hare’s Ear, seems to 
give way to the purer blue and more light and elegant form 
of the Blue Dun, or, in stormy weather, the Whirling Dun, 
each having the same generic and specific difference. Ibis 
surtout of bluo is next embroidered with paley gold, almost 
as pule as silver, and light-bluish wing; and the imitation of 
the living fly is culled the Quill Gnat, or Carslialton Cock- 
tail. April advances, and the blue is warmed into a rich 
olive tint. Anon this Proteus insect is gorgeous in a suit of 
green striped with gold, which in the same day, it may be, 
lie lays aside for a still more brilliant costume of yellow em- 
broidered with green, till, in the full blaze of summer, lie 
assumes a rich yellow hue, deepening in tone with the in- 
tensity of the heat. Then, again, as summer fades into 
uutumn, and autumn sinks into the chill lap ol winter, the 
same perennial chill of the rivers still continues to emerge 
from its parent nymph in the depth of the water, in a dress 
befitted to the season, and gradually sobering down to the 
dusky hues which best suit the dull and cheerless winter’s 
day. But from the first to the last, whatever the dress may 
bej the insect is still the same in every essential particular. 
Such is an imperfect sketch of what, so far as I can trace 
if, is the history of the economy of this important branch of 
the insect creation. It will hardly be denied that, if it is 
true, it tends very much to simplify our knowledge and 
classification of the insect tribes. We must not however 
forget that, in addition to this never-ending series of varia- 
tions, every individual during his brief career undergoes no 
inconsiderable number of changes as he advances from in- 
fancy to maturity, or withers in old age ; and the various 
different appearances are thus wonderfully increased. It is 
by no means uncommon to see the same fly on the water in 
three or four different stages at the same time, and the fish 
taking some greedily, while they suffer others to float by 
unnoticed, or at least disregarded. In such a case there is 
no fixed rule ; accurate observation is the only thing to be 
depended on. But at the same time, amidst this endless 
variety of shades and tints — assuming, too, that fish are 
only to betaken by imitations of living insects — what becomes 
of your Man of odo Fly? Early in the season, indeed, if 
fish be very strong on the feed, and the fly be scarce, and 
his insect bears any resemblance at all to the prevailing 
insect of the season, the angler may, and doubtless will, 
backed by the aid of other advantages, get some sport ; but, 
after April, experience has taught me that no animal is more 
capricious in its choice of food than the trout, while each ad- 
vancing day presents him with an increasing variety of dainties 
to stimulate his appetite, — and then, if you do not happen to 
have the right fly, and will not dirty your fingers with caddis 
or worm, and the water should happen to be very weedy and 
unfavourable for spinning, — I say, in such circumstances, 
throw your hat in the water, or your fly in the high road, 
or indulge in any other interesting recreation you like, but 
do not hope to catch fish. 
But to return to the classification of flies. Independently 
of this perennial insect which I have just spoke ot, there 
are also various other Water Flies which appear from time to 
time, having different characteristic distinctions, — as the 
Water Cricket, the Gravel Bed, the Grannum,— and some 
of them, as the Golden Dun Midge, in colour closely re- 
sembling tbe varieties of the universal fly I have above 
mentioned, olive ribbed with yellow. These insects cannot, 
as far as I can learn, be reduced into any distinct popular 
classification. But for all ordinary and useful ends, the 
water fly, or Aquatica, may be well subdivided into two 
species;— (1) Perennial, with the subaltern species or 
variations of colour which I have mentioned one great 
characteristic pertaining to the whole being, that this water 
fly, in one shape or more, is on the water all the year round ; 
(2) Occasional, or those which appear only at certain seasons 
for a limited time. Both, indeed, may be classified in the 
more commonly received way, as Trichoptera, Lepidoptera, 
Neuroptera, Ac. My main objection, indeed, to the latter 
classification is, that it may apply to all flies, land flies as 
well as water. I need not say that every attempt at classify- 
ing must be modified with a view to the object it is in- 
tended to serve. That which will be well fitted for the 
arrangements of a museum, will be perfectly useless for the 
less scientific purposes of the fisherman. 
Salmon Fishing in the Avon.— Salmon come a cer- 
tain distance up the Stour, as well as tire Avon ; yet, 
though the rivers approximate so close as to form the 
same harbour at Christchurch, the salmon will only rise 
at a fly in the Avon. 
Otters.— Among the signs of the good angling prospects 
this year on the Ness, is the number of otters seen about the 
river. A few weeks ago two were captured on the same 
day above the Islands, and a very large and powerful otter 
was killed opposite Wells-street on Monday last. Several 
others have been seen, principally about tbe Islands and the 
canal bank at the Holm Pool. Whilst tbe snow lay on the 
ground, their traces were seen in several places . — Inverness 
Courier. 
Take of Fish. — Fish of all kinds have been scarce on 
the west coast for two years back. For some lime they have 
again become exceedingly abundant, and we have been 
informed that about Campelton, Lamlash, and Girvan, 
whitings are so numerous as to have been caught in boatloads 
in a few hours. From Arran they are usually taken across 
to Ayr, whence they are transmitted inland by the South- 
Western Railway. These fish are all taken with the hook 
and bait. They are selling at the flshmarket here, all but 
living, in large quantities, at three halfpence per pound— 
exactly half the price they were about a year ago .— North 
British Daily Mail. 
SUBTRACT FROM LOUDON BRIDOE. 
ADD TO LONDON BRIDGE. 
— 
II. M. 
3 0 
Boulogne 
2 41 
Calais 
2 19 
Chester Bar, 
3 37 
Cowes 
3 32 
Dublin 
2 65 
Dover Pier. 
2 67 
Dunnosc . . . 
4 22 
Gravesend.. 
0 37 
2 22 
Greenwich . 
0 20 
Havre 
4 15 
Harwich 2 
Ipswich 2 
Lowestoft 3 
Margate 2 
Needles 4 
Nore 0 
Ostend 1 
Portsmouth . . 2 
Ramsgate 2 
Shorcham 2 
Southampton 2 
Spithead. 4 
37 A insterdatn. ... 6 63 
7i|Ant\verp 2 18 
37 Brest 1 39 
2 1 Bridport 3 63 
22 ! Cherbourg .... 5 23 
ss i I Cardigan. 4 63 
12 Cork 2 23 
27 Downs 3 38 
47 1 Exmouth 4 18 
52 Fowey 3 23 
27! Guernsey 4 23 
37i Hamburgh.... 3 53 
. ll. 
Humber.mth. 
_ of 3 
Land's End. 
Leith i , 
MilfordHavcnii « 
Plymouth 3 
Rotterdam.,.. <1 g, 
Torbay jj 
Weymouth..., 4 i . 
Whitby 1 •; 
Wisbcach 3 
Youghal j 3 .. 
Mar. 6, 
„ 7. 
„ 15, 
„ 16, 
1. 17. 
„ 20 , 
April 1. 
» 5, 
19. 
May 24, 
Monday. . 
Tuesday . 
Wednesday 
Thursday . . 
Friday 
Monday . . . 
Saturday 
Wednesday 
Wednesday 
Wednesday 
CLUB MEETINGS, 1864. 
.Meeting of the London Model Yacht Club. 
.Meeting of the Royal Mersey Yacht Club. 
.Monthly Meeting of the Liverpool Yacht Club. 
.Ball of the Royal London Yacht Club. 
.Lecture before the Prince of Wales Yacht Club. 
.Meeting of the Royal London Yacht Club. 
.Meeting of the Royal Harwich Yacht Club 
.Meeting of the Birkenhead Model Yacht Club. 
.Monthly Meeting of the Liverpool Yacht Club. 
(Queen's Birthday), Annual Meeting of the Royal 
Victoria Yacht Club, at the Thatched House 
Tavern, St. Jamcs's-sircet. 
SAILING MATCHES AND CLUB REGATTAS. 
March 22.- Match between the Irresistible, Mr. Gardner, P.W.Y.C., and 
the Blue-eyed Maid, Commodore Tuckwell, L.M.Y. Club. Course, 
from Erith to the Chapman and buck. 
April —.—Match between the Idas, sailed by Mr. Gunner, and the 
Albatross, sailed by Mr. Berncastle. Course, Blackwall to Graves, 
end and back. 
May 3rd —Private match between Jessica and Sirocco, L.Y.C., pro. 
\lded It blows a single reefed breeze. 
May 22, Monday — First match of the Royal Thames Yacht Club- 
Cutter Yachts only. 
July 6, Thursday.— Second match of the Royal Thames lacht Club- 
Schooners only. 
ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB. 
On Wednesday evening the monthly dinner of this club, 
at the Bedford Hotel, Covent Garden, was attended by 36 
gentlemen, at the conclusion of which an adjournment took 
place to the general meeting room, where the Vice-Commo- 
dore presided. After confirming the minutes of the previous 
meeting, the annual elections took place, when the Commo- 
dore, Vice-Commodore, and other officers of the committees, 
were each and all re-elected. Lord Alfred Paget, M.P., now 
arrived and took the chair, the Vice-Commodore vacating. 
The officers returned thanks for the honour of their re-elec- 
tion. Five candidates were admitted as members. The first 
match of the season was fixed for Monday the 22nd of May, 
to be sailed by three classes of cutters, for three several 
prizes of 100Z., 50?., and 30/. The last day for entering is 
Mondav, 15th of May, until 10 p.m. Thursday the 6th of 
July was also fixed for the second or schooner match, but 
the lust day of entrance was not determined upon. The 
Commodore, Lord Alfred Paget, has sold the Rosalind, and 
Mr. Craigie’s Volawte has been purchased by Mr. Birch. 
The next monthly meeting of the club will be held at tho 
Bedford, on the first Wednesday in April. 
PRINCE OP WALES YACHT CLUB. 
The report of yesterday evening’s meeting had not reached 
us at 1 a.m. (Saturday.) We yet hope to iusert it in 
“ Latest Intelligence.” 
LONDON MODEL YACHT CLUB. 
The following circular has this week been distributed 
“ Anderton’s Hotel, 194, Fleet-street, February 25th, 1854. 
Sir— I beg to inform you that tho next, and future meetings, 
will be held at this hotel, and also that the following gen- 
tlemen will be ballotted for at tho meeting on _ Monday, 
March 6th :— Messrs. John Dormay, Marshall, Lipscombs, 
John Ham, Robert Frost, W. P. Bain, Robert Hewitt, 
Samuel Hewitt, Henry Street, Henry Van, C. W. Stec , 
E. Guest, J. Laing, E. Gunner, T. Bishop, T. Wentzeli, 
W. Pearce, and T. West. At tbe April meeting the follow- 
ing gentlemen will be candidates for admission, viz. • 
Messrs. Thomas Finnis, Thomas Bunnett, Thomas Deane, 
Thomas Meacham, and John Crockett. A full m e ® * 
ing is expected, as the new rules and regulations will e 
finally confirmed, and ordered to bo printed.” 
(Signed) “ W. Crabb, Hon. Sec. 
“IRRESISTIBLE” AND “BLUE-EYED MAID.” 
Twenty pounds a-6ide was punctually posted at The 
Field ” office on Tuesday, by Commodore Tuckwell an 
Mr. J. Gardner, the owners of the above yachts, being 
stakes for the match now agreed to be sailed on Wednes ). 
the 22nd March, instant, from Erith round tho Chapm 
and back, in eight hours; or the contest to be renewe • 
Mr. Gardner drew the No. 1, or, southward station , a 
the start will take place at 9 a.m. from Erith Buy. 
hone to announce in our next that a small steamer ha- 
chartered lor the match. But it is wished to 1»»* ^ 
number of visitors; and only enough will be admitt < 
defray the actual “ costs of the day,” as tlie lawyers 8*1’ 
it. The Irresistible’s flag is “ white over blue ; her 1 
is “ bluo, with amber border.” 
Cowes, March 2. — The only news is, that H. C-Okeov> 
Esq., of the R. V. Y. C , was at Naples on the im * ^ 
from Corfu, &c. He intended sailing in tv few vncland, 
Civita Vecchin, Leghorn, &c., on his way to G 
which he expected to reach the beginning ot juy. 0 f 
Signals.— Asthe first important prelimm^o a Je 
actual war, the Admiralty have this week lssWfl d#vS 
of signal-books to the fleet, which came into use two . 
ago at Spithead. . . w i,ick 
Cotton Sails .-* 1 Sir, -The present war P™® 
hemp commands should lead to the adoption at once o 
made of cotton. Tho United States have set us the 
and I am rather surprised that our manufacturer 
