I '?$&&& THE NATURAL TROUT FLY AND ITS IMITATION. BEING AN ANGLER'S RECORD OF INSECTS SEEN AT THE WATERSIDE AND THE METHOD OF TYING THE FLIES. BY LEONARD WEST. WILLIAM POTTER, 30, EXCHANGE STREET EAST, LIVERPOOL. 1921, FIRST EDITION (privately printed) SECOND EDITION, 1921 (revised and enlarged) All R'ghts Reserved ° FOREWORD. It is with considerable diffidence on the part of the Author that this Book is laid before the general public. The notes and observations contained in it were made for private use only, but owing to the persuasion of a friend, the Author has decided to give them a wider circulation. If the reader obtains useful information from these pages, or finds matter of interest therein, he has to thank J. Unsworth, Esq. (M.B. London), of St. Helens, entirely, for without his persuasion and kind assistance, the Sketches would have remained as entries only, in a private note book. To other friends who have given assistance, I will take this opportunity of tendering hearty thanks ; whatever has been required, either in the way of materials, information, or advice has been freely and ungrudgingly given. V MS£4739 CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION.— Chiefly Entomological. CHAPTER. SUBJECT. PAGE. I Crane-flies and Gnats 23 II Two-winged Flies — Diptera 29 III Mayflies, &c. — Ephemeridce 35 IV Duns, Spinners, &c. — Ephemeridce 39 V Stone Flies. — Perlidce 45 VI Sedge Flies. — Trichoptera 51 VII Beetles, &c. — Coleoptera, &c 57 VIII Various Flies. — Hymenoptera, &c 63 IX Spiders, &c. — Araneida, &c 71 X Hackles 77 XI Feathers for Flies' Wings 85 XII Feathers for Flies' Wings 89 XIII Feathers for Flies' Wings 93 XIV Materials. — Their Selection, Collection, Storage ... 99 XV Making an Artificial 113 XVI Making an Artificial — continued 121 XVII Making an Artificial — continued 127 XVIII The Choice of a Fly 131 XIX List of Flies and When They Appear 139 XX Why do the Fish Rise? 147 XXI From the Fishes' Point of View 155 Note.— Chapters XX and XXI are reprinted from the "Fly Fisher's Club Journal." LIST OF PLATES. PLATE 1a Insect Types facing page 8 1 Crane-flies and Gnats ,, ,, 22 2 Two-winged Flies. — Diptera ... „ ,, 28 3 Drakes — Mayflies, &c. — Ephemerida? ,, ,, 34 4 Duns, Spinners, &c. — Ephemerida ,, ,, 38 5 Stone-Flies. — Perlida? ,, ,, 44 6 Caddis Flies— Sedges. — Trichoptera ,, „ 50 7 Beetles, &c. — Coleoptera, &c. ... „ „ 56 8 Lacewings — Ichneumon Flies, &c. — Hymenoptera, &c. ,, ,, 62 9 Spiders, Caterpillars, &c. — Araneida, &c. ... ... ... ,, ,, 70 10 Hackle Feathers, Poultry, &c. ,, ,, 76 11 Feathers for Flies' Wings ... „ ,, 84 12 Feathers for Flies' Wings ... ,, ,, 88 13 Feathers for Flies' Wings ... „ „ 92 14 Materials page 98 15 Making an Artificial ,, 112 16 Making an Artificial „ 120 17 A Field Material Case — Stripping a Quill ,, 126 Introduction. TO almost every fly fisher sooner or later there comes a desire for more knowledge of the various insects seen at the waterside and used in his craft, and also a wish for some definite idea as to their classification and life history. Should the reader not be possessed by this desire, we strongly recommend him to miss this chapter, which is an attempt to convey a broad idea of the general classification of insects with as few technicalities, and in as simple language as possible ; but withal in such a form as to be acceptable to fellow anglers, and so that even the least initiated will be enabled to distinguish an Ephemeron from a Stonefly or a Caddis Fly, and so on. The expert entomologist may scorn the feeble attempt ; this, however, is not written for his edifica- tion, but for the humble followers of the immortal Walton who prefer wading in a pellucid stream to the intricacies of an entomology. It is not necessary that the angler should know every species by name — to do so would entail the work of a lifetime, as the species are numbered by thousands, and many of the differences which determine the species are so small as to be negligible from the angler's point of view. It is, however, both useful and interesting to have a broad idea of the general classification of the insect world, and such knowledge will give added enjoyment to many an hour when angling interest flags. From the purely sporting point of view, the angler with a knowledge of entomology, possesses a great advantage, and is able readily to select a suitable fly; whereas, one without this knowledge is liable to fall into mistakes which appear grotesque to the initiated. Order. Sub-Orders. Famil 1. Apt era 2 7 2. Orthoptcra 2 10 3. Neuroptera 5 10 4. Hymenoptera 4 24 5. Coleoptera 7 86 6. Lepidoptera 3 53 7. Diptera 6 43 8. Aphaniptera — 9. Thysanoptera - — 10. Hemiptera 4 (6 series) 35 8 INTRODUCTION. The insect world is divided into ten orders or general divisions, which are again sub-divided into sub-orders, families, and species, as follows : — Types. Silver Fish or Sugar Louse. Earwigs, Cockroaches, Grass- hoppers, etc. Nerve-winged Insects. Ants, Bees, Wasps, etc. Beetles. Moths and Butterflies. Two-winged Flies. Fleas. Thrips. Scale Insects, " Bugs," Water Measurers, Water Boat- men, Greenflies. Looking down this formidable list one is relieved to find that with- out more ado it may be reduced from ten to five, if we retain only those orders for which we have an immediate use, as follows : — 1. Neuroptera Nerve- winged Insects, Plates la, 3, 4, 5, 6. 2. Hymenoptera Wasp-waisted Flies, Plates la, 8. 3. Coleoptera Beetles, Plates la, 7. 4. Diptera. Two-winged Flies, Plates la, 1, 2. 5. Hemiptera Water Measurers, Boatmen, etc., Plates la, 7, 8. The illustration on the following pages will, we hope, make the characteristics of each class clear to the observant reader. Insects undergo three distinct changes of form or meta- morphoses ; they commence as an ovum or egg which hatches into a larva commonly called a grub or caterpillar. During this period the insect usually feeds voraciously, frequently doing great damage to its food plants, and as it grows too large for its sheath it casts it, this being repeated many times in some species. Frequently the colour of the new sheath is in strong contrast to the one cast off. Full growth being attained, the larva changes into a pupa or chrysalis, a stage very variable in duration, I>IT>TBR/" — TLuoVCingco File! NEUROPTERA-Nei-veWiT!^.^ d Flies f\0 =— }j HYMBNOPTERA-Wttsj, WaistW Flies • 1 COLEOPTERA- Beeflcs-Havi^ Havd \Kfa2g Cases W i\ r/V v x HEMIPTERR— Hw^^ Hoi»t.v Upper-Wings ■ INTRODUCTION. 0 sometimes lasting a very short time only ; in other insects many months are spent at rest in this state. Then the sheath is split and the insect emerges in its final form, and is known as an imago. There is an exception to every rule — Ephemeridce emerge from the pupal sheath as Sub-imagines or " Duns," and cast a further com- plete sheath before they are known as Imagines or Spinners. This list has recently been overhauled. Entomology as a science is unfortunately in a state of tentative development, and instead of insects being entirely classified according to appearance and the characteristics of their final development, they are now classified according to various features of development during the earlier stages of their existence, the idea followed being that all insects are in a state of progressive development, and an attempt is now made to arrange and classify according to their place in this development. This is the general list of orders which is adopted at present : — Sub-Class. Apterygota. — Wingless. Exopterygota. — Wings developed visibly outside the cuticle. Class Hexapoda — or Insecta. Order. TyPe- Endopterygota. — Wings deve- loped beneath the larval cuticle only visible after penultimate moult. 1. Apt era 2. Dermaptera 3. Orthoptera 4. Plecoptera 5. Corrodentia 6. Ephemeroptera 7. Odonata 8. Thysanoptera 9. Hemiptera 10. Anoplura 11. Neuroptera 12. Coleoptera 13. Mecaptera 14. Trichoptera 15. Lepidoptera 16. Dipt era 17. Siphonaptera 18. Hymenoptera Silver-fish or Sugar-louse. Earwigs. Cockroaches, Grass Hoppers, Crickets, etc. Stone Flies. Book-lice, etc. Mayflies. Dragon-flies. Thrips or Flower Insects. Bugs, Frog Hoppers, Aphides, etc. Lice. Alder Flies, Lace wings, etc. Beetles. Scorpion-flies. Caddis Flies. Butterflies and Moths. Two-winged Flies. Fleas. Ants, Bees, Wasps, etc. 10 INTRODUCTION. This list gives eight orders of interest to anglers, viz. :- Order. 4. Plecoptera 6. Ephemeroptcra 9. Hemiptera. 11. Neuroptera 12. Coleoptera 14. Trichoptera 16. Dipt era 18. Hymenoptera Stone Flies. Mayflies. Bugs, Boatmen, etc. Nerve-winged flies. Beetles. Caddis Flies. Two-winged flies. Ants, Bees, and Wasps. in place of the five previously cited, solely due to the fact that the Stone Flies, Mayflies, and Caddis Flies are placed in separate orders instead of being grouped as " Neuroptera " — owing to the different characteristics shown during their larval and pupal stages. The specific names remain unaltered, as this book is intended for the use of anglers rather than entomologists, we propose to follow the time-honoured nomenclature of Linnceus. Stone Flies are thus Pcrlidce as of yore, not Plecoptera, and Mayflies are Ephemeridce and not Ephemeroptera. Let the Systematists grumble as much as they like — the fish won't mind ! And for a long while to come the old names will be the ones favoured of anglers. I. The Neuroptera, or nerve-winged flies, have two pairs of wings, both pairs membraneous with extensive neuration ; certain Ephemeridce, which have only one pair, make an exception to this rule ; the imago has a biting mouth. By neuration is meant the system of nerves which constitute the framework that supports the membrane of the wings. Selecting again only those families of the Neuroptera of interest to anglers, we have the following : — Ephemeridce Mayflies, Duns, etc. Perlidce Stone Flies or Needle Flies. Trichoptera or Phryganidce Caddis Flies. Chrysopidce Lacewings. Sialidce Alder Flies. INTRODUCTION. 11 The EphemeridcB are delicate insects with atrophied mouths and small short antennas, or feelers ; usually having four membraneous wings, having much minute cross veining, the hinder pair much smaller than the other pair and sometimes entirely absent ; the body terminating in three or two elongate slender tails. The wings when at rest are closed together nearly vertically over and in line with the body of the insect. The Perlidce vary in size considerably and have four membraneous wings smoky in colour, the hind pair much larger than the upper pair ; the neuration is complex and looks brownish against the light. Most insects have small heads, a thorax, and an abdomen. In contrast to this the Perlidce have well-developed heads, a pro-thorax, and also a metathorax ; in consequence, the legs are widely separated. When at rest the wings are folded flat or else furled along the body. Trichoptera, or Phryganidce, as* they are variously called, form a connecting link between flies and moths, and have always rather puzzled entomologists ; their wings are more or less clothed with hair, the nervures divide at very acute angles with very few transverse nervules, hind wings larger than the front ones ; antennas and legs often long, though not so in all species ; mandibles, or lower jaws, absent or rudimentary ; larvae, caterpillar-like, usually inhabiting cases of their own construction. Chrysopides, the Lacewing flies, fragile insects, with four beautiful gauzy wings, which fold over their back roofwise, are remarkable for their brilliant gold or ruby coloured eyes, which possess a remarkable brilliance ; and, lastly, the Sialidce, of which there is only one British species that has two pairs of dusky wings, the hind pair slightly smaller, and both heavily veined, which also close roofwise when at rest. The EphemeridcB (Plates 3 and 4), of which there are over forty species, form one of the most important classes to anglers. From early Spring to late Autumn they are seen in swarms about the water with a curious up and down flight, winging their way before the wind or quietly floating down the stream with wings 12 INTRODUCTION. upright. They have an infinite variety of size and colour ; some species have well-marked cloudy wings easy of imitation, others have wings which vie with the rainbow in colour and iridescent beauty, of which no entirely satisfactory imitation can be produced. The EphemeridcB are aquatic insects — the eggs are laid in the water and the larvae live and grow there. Coming to the surface, the larva shakes off its sheath and emerges as a Sub-imago, this later, casts a second sheath and becomes a Spinner or Imago, and it is in this last stage that it baffles the imitator's skill. Some EphemeridcB have a larval period of twelve months and others three years, hence, the pollution of a stream only once in every three years may be the cause of the disappearance of the large Drakes from so many of our streams. The Stone Flies or Perlidce, of which 40 species are indigenous to this country, are also of interest to anglers — especially on the upper waters of our streams, whose stony beds are the habitat of their larvae. Like the EphemeridcB, they begin to show in March or even earlier and are with us to the end of the season. Their larvae prey on other insects, especially the larvae of the smaller EphemeridcB. Their eggs are dropped on the water and hatch into creepers, the following year developing into flies. The Creepers are curious little creatures with big heads and eyes, powerful looking legs, and long tails — the largest being Perla maxima (Fig. 50, plate 5) — and the Creeper of this fly is often used up stream by anglers much the same as a worm. In the North of England, fly fishing is of little use for a week or two at least after a good hatch of this insect, so greedily do the fish take it. It has often been stated that the Yellow Sally (Perla viridissima) is a bitter fly and fish do not care for it. This is a great mistake ; what the fish do not like is the wretched imitations which are offered in place of this very beautiful fly — a really bright imitation with good light-yellow glassy wings is taken freelv under suitable conditions. INTRODUCTION. 13 The smaller Perlidce are all remarkable for the curious way in which they roll up their wings until the insect looks more like a thin bit of stick than a fly ; however, all are worth imitating, and are great favourites with trout and grayling alike. Trichoptera. — We next come to the Caddis Flies (plate 6), at present considered as a sub-order or family of the Neuroptera, though each succeeding generation of entomologists seems to delight in moving them to another place. They are divided into seven families, and 250 species. These again are aquatic insects. The eggs are laid in the water in the form of a gelatinous globule, whence the larvae emerge, and at once make themselves a covering of tubular form of either reeds, weeds, stones, shells, or other handy material which they cement together. Some varieties retain free movement, others cement their dwellings on to stones and stay there until hatching time comes. The larvae of the larger varieties are very voracious and do not hesitate to attack small fish, which they grip from below with their powerful front claws, never letting go if once they get a fair hold. The larva is known as a Stick Bait or Cad Bait, and is much used in some districts. Phryganea grandis is the largest species. It is the Bustard of the North Country, and is often found running round the collar when one is on angling bent, especially at dusk. Possibly the white attracts its attention. As the hay ripens numerous white and yellow moths may be seen during the summer evenings hovering over the flowers and flying with considerable speed from plant to plant. These are the " Ghost Swift " moths (Hepialis humuli) of which the white is the male and the yellow the female, and have nothing whatever in common with the " Bustards " of the angler, although they are frequently erroneously called by that name ; no doubt owing to the fact that they are strongly in evidence during the height of the Bustard season, and the ill-informed taking them as such, ties an imitation which is passed off as a Bustard. They never go near the water except by accident, whereas the real Bustards are born and bred in the water, lay their eggs there, and are a continual temptation to the lusty trout by reason of the way they skate upon, or hover over its surface. 14 INTRODUCTION. The position of the wings when at rest is roofwise over the body and they are covered with curious downy hairs, which under the microscope look like small spear heads and from which the tribe derive their name. They are easy flies to imitate, and well worth using when the naturals are about. The ChrysopidcB or Lacewings (plate 8, figs. 75, 76, 77) number 15 species — three of them are frequently seen on and about the water, namely : the green one (Hemcrobius alba) ; the blue one (H. nervosus) ; and the yellow one (H. hirtus) ; and all are taken eagerly by the fish. The blue one at times is seen dancing over the water in hundreds and might be mistaken for a small Caddis Fly ; but its clear, rather iridescent wings and different nervuration quickly reveals its identity. The eggs of this fly are laid on bushes, each egg being carried on a hair-like support attached to a leaf of the bush. The larger species in spite of their ample and resplendent wings have a curiously feeble flight when seen on the wing during the day, but in the dusk develop a surprising turn of speed at times. The power of insects on the wing depends more on the size of the thorax than either the size, form, or number of their wings , in other words, a monoplane is quite as good as a biplane, provided the monoplane has sufficient engine power behind it. Of the Sialida or Alder Flies (plate 8, fig 80), we have only one example — Sialis lutaria — so common everywhere, sitting on fences or flying over the water. The eggs of this fly are laid in patches on the leaves of marginal plants — one patch at times con- taining over 1,000 eggs — and as they hatch, the larvae make their way down into the water, where they grow during their larval period and then burrow at the margin of the water and spend a short pupal period, emerging to enjoy a time of flight and flirtation and basking in the sun. II. Hymenoptera (plate 8, figs. 78, 79, 81-86, and plate 9, figs. 96, 97) possess four wings, membraneous without scales, never very large, the hind pair smaller than the front ; nervures irregular in size and form ; mandibles conspicuous. The females are furnished with a saw, sting, or ovipositor at the extreme INTRODUCTION. 15 end of the body, which may be withdrawn into the body or be permanently protruded. Hymenoptera are a very large class, including as they do, many insects of such widely different habits. They are popularly known as wasp-waisted flies, such being an easily recognised characteristic. The Ants, Bees, Wasps, Ichneumon, and Gall-flies, of which we use some few, and the Saw-flies are included in this order. The Hymenoptera are looked upon by entomologists as the most interesting and intelligent species found in the insect world, con- taining as they do the bulk of those which have communal existence and live in colonies, where laws exist and the strictest discipline is maintained. Many of the species are beautiful alike in form and colour. Very few of them are aquatic insects, but many get on the water accidentally. This is possibly one reason why at times they are so attractive, as once on the water the}^ buzz and make a great fuss instead of quietly going ashore. If asked which is our most beautiful fly, one would be puzzled to answer, but an exceedingly handsome fly is the Ruby-tailed Wasp, or Fire-tail (Chrysis ignita), plate 8, fig. 85, and there is a similar fly (C. rubii) about half the size. One often wonders at fly tiers making " fancy " flies, when there are in nature such magnificent examples to be copied. These two flies are said to be enemies of the common solitary wasp, preying on their larvae ; laying their own eggs in the comb of the wasp ; their larvae eating the wasp grubs. Plate 8, figs. 78, 79, shew Nematus niger and Nematus lucidus, two very common flies, the former much in evidence in the Spring time, and the latter practically all the season. Early writers on fishing flies all give the Hawthorn Fly (Bibio marci), plate 2, fig. 20, as one of importance, but we think Nematus niger is much more widely distributed, and abundant at the water- side ; we believe it is at times mistaken for and erroneously called the Hawthorn Fly. Plate 8, fig. 84, the small Sand Wasp (Allantus arcuatus) is always found when the Soldier Beetle is moving, and frequently side by side on the same hemlock or other flower. 16 INTRODUCTION. The Ichneumon flies have no special mission to perform about the water, but are frequently to be seen floating "spent " on the surface ; plate 8, fig. 83, etc. III. The Coleoptera, or beetles. Insects of this order are readily distinguished by means of their horn}' wing cases or " elytra " in combination with their strong antennae and heavy legs. On plate 7 are shown five of the most useful ; the first is a fairly common brown beetle (Serica brunnea), useful for dibbing with, and taken by large trout and chub with avidity. At first glance it is recognised as a small Cockchafer. Plate 7, fig. 67, is the small Cowdung Beetle (Aphodius f ceteris), which is taken with avidity at all times by trout. No. 68 is the " Soldier Beetle " (Telephorus lividus). The Soldier is found in hundreds on hemlock and similar flowers, flying about and dropping on the water in the sunshine. It is a beautiful orange colour, though there is another and larger beetle, which has a dark body instead of an orange one, and the elytra (wing cases) are rather more dingy in colour. The Sailor Beetle (Telephorus rusticus) is a similar insect, but has dark blue elytra with a metallic lustre. The fifth beetle illustrated (No. 70) is a very common one (Elaphrus cuprens), with dark shiny blue and greenish elytra, often found under stones, etc., by the water side, from which it is washed out whenever the water rises, and becomes a prey to the trout, which take it greedily. There are many other varieties which are locally abundant, and if seen on the water, no doubt will repay the trouble of imitating. Our object, however, is not to multiply patterns, but to choose only the most useful and typical. The Water Beetles are often taken by trout, but No. 5 is fairly like several of the common varieties. IV. Diptera, as the name suggests, are the flies with two wings only, membraneous, usually transparent, and never very large ; behind the wings are a pair of small spherical bodies terminating a short stalk ; halterers or balancers they are sometimes called. These may be atrophied wings or the early stage of development of a second pair ; both theories have been advanced in explanation INTRODUCTION. 17 of these organs. The mouth parts are formed for sucking, and sometimes take the form of a proboscis, which can be retracted at will. The usual larval form is a small grub or maggot without feet. Those which most interest us are the Tipulidce or Crane-flies (plate 1, figs. 1-5) ; they are all useful to anglers, but in their larval stages, a scourge to farmers, doing great damage to the roots of their crops. The Winter Gnats {Limnobince) also belong to this family. Examples of the Mosquitoes (Culicidcs), of which we have about ten varieties, and the Gnats (Chironomidce), of which two hundred species are indigenous to this country, are shown on plate 1, figs. 6-10. Included in the Diptera are the Syriphidce or Hoverers, of brilliant yellow and black, which possess such marvellous powers of flight ; the Woodflies (Sarcophagidce) ; the Blow-flies (Bibionidce) ; the Oakflies (Leptidcs), dear to the angler more from early association than actual use ; the Empidce or Snipe Flies, which prey on other insects ; their head and mandibles resemble that of a woodcock, and of necessity to catch their prey, they are exceedingly quick of flight. (Plate 2.) In all, we have over four thousand varieties of Diptera, indigenous to this country, plates 1 and 2 showing a few typical varieties. There are also two now mentioned for the first time, which are favourites, and yet new to the angling world at large ; one is the Silver Tail (Theriva nobilata), plate 2, fig. 21, and the other, fig. 27, of the Metallic-flies or Dolichopida', which are exceedingly common at the waterside, and quite worth imitating. V. Hemiptera. — Many of these are purely aquatic, including the Water Boatmen, which are, no doubt, familiar to most anglers. These are fierce insects, which attack other insects, tadpoles, and small fry. They have a powerful beak which renders their attacks very formidable, and swim with a curious jerky motion, coming to the surface occasionally to take in air. They are good fliers, and on the wing look rather like a bee. The largest is Notonecta glanca. The elytra fold up over the body compactly " roof wise " (plate 7, fig. 72). In the water it is readily distinguished by the fact that B 18 INTRODUCTION. it swims on its back, i.e. with its legs above its body ; whereas the Corixce swim back up with the legs below the body. The smaller Boatmen, of which there are about twenty species, are known as Corixa (plate 7, fig. 71), and their wings fold flat along their backs. They are similar in habitat to the former, largely vegetarian in their diet however. The mouth parts show an entirely different construction from those of Notonecta glauca, which are in the form of a hollow pointed beak adapted to piercing their prey and sucking the juice therefrom. It is curious to see a swarm of them sporting on a sunny afternoon. At first glance it looks as though a good rise of Blue Duns was going on, but closer observation will show that after a short flight they drop into the water again, and swim away amongst the water weed. Woe betide them should the trout observe their little game, which then has a tragic ending ! The Water Measurers (plate 7, figs. 73-74) also belong to this class {Hydrometra stagnorum ; Gerris lacusiris). They are known to anglers as " Water Crickets," and are to be found at the margin of almost all waters. In the early season they are taken very readilv by the fish before more luscious morsels are abundant. They are insectivorous, and at once attack and crowd round any small insect which alights on the water near them. There are also illustrated two other Hemiptera, the Frog Hopper or Cuckoo Spit (Apkrophora aim), plate 8, fig. 91, which is the " Wren Tail," of Ronalds ; in the summer it hides in a frothy mass on the stems of grass and plants, and in the autumn, where these are near the water, this insect sometimes jumps on to the surface by thousands. Another of the Hemiptera is the common Grass Bug (plate 8, fig. 88) ; it is singularly like the Water Measurers in general form, but is found on the grass in the pastures, and along the margins in countless numbers, and on a windy day is often blown on to the water in thousands. There is also a green one, similar in form, but slightly smaller than the one illustrated. We will close these brief notes with a short one on the Spiders (Araneidce), which occupy an intermediate position in the animal kingdom between the insects and the vertebrates. The external INTRODUCTION. 19 differences between spiders and insects are : the number of legs — a spider having eight against six in insects ; the head and thorax are in one, known as a Cefhalothorax ; the mouths are totally different, a spider has no antennae, and no body segments, the abdomen being in one piece, and the eyes are simple instead of being made up of numerous lenses. Internally, the nervous system, the digestive organs, and circulatory systems are quite different and more highly developed in spiders than in insects. Spiders have no larval stages , their eggs are usually laid in a woven silk envelope and minute spiders emerge from these eggs and grow without an}' material change of form. They are numerous at the water side, and certainly deserve more attention from anglers than they have so far received. CRANE-FLIES AND GNATS. 21 w H «< i-) H O Q < W I— I to < « Hoo a s fa fa fa fa Q o fa O fa fa fa fa fa o o Ih o eo 3 o CU O en 5 • J J 44 o T3 O •o J3 en rt 43 c CS g "-• to 4> (-» ES. en c Ih 3 4h Ih 60 3 O O 42 -t-> OS O *+H 03 £ T3 ft? CO u 3 60 CU ^3 en U2 O 60 * J J J c3 O — CU (4 <*-i 3 o •C+3 03 T3 o ^h b. OS 3 4) >, £ to'3 60 42 T3 0) •O 3 en O O o3 —• 43 H CU pq k-3 03 5 o ^-* — — • »-« cd rt n 3 o »-i r^i ^3 *3 3 cr 4^ Body Ih 60 o b. 03 60 cu 44 o - CU & o T3 3 3 cr cr 3 o3 rt 60 o S 3 o 3 V 3 ^> a! a! 4h sfl§ fa o 2 u a Q o1 "3 > 6 Ih ctj Q o 9) Ih o 43 3 fa oj cu- 43 fa Wings. 13 cu 3 cj o 44 o o T3 cu 11 T3* cu •-. 44 as 3 en o o CJ o o JX o o CJ >. en 3 fa 0) 3 CJ o 3 3-3 44 CJ O CJ cu 3 44 o o CJ 3 & O m Crt Crt fa o >* P fa fa l-> fa Thorax. 5 o C — » en O cj en O O T3 C O CJ ,3 O 'C o o Ih O •a c o o 4) 4= CJ •c en O ■8 •a en s o cu ">H eu CU > cu 3 o CJ *5 i- bH o > CJ CJ O In rt 3 fa rt o o .— « rt Ih 1 Ih pq 05 Q >* O fa o o fa Legs. CU a A! U o3 i CO a! — rt o 3 cti 4) 60 0) 60 4-» o 3 ^1 o o o 3 i o "cjX5 44 CJ O CJ lA CJ 03 T3 o 44 cu O 1- o o CJ cu > 3 cu o Ih fa o cS 5 o rt — 03 43 a .O cu o o &o 4C u fa fa Jh O fa a o 45 CJ w5 1 1 Ih a en o 3 'C la S o fa O X ' 1 O o oj s si O en s ° o 1 V c >, tx, T3 HI o >, -b> 3 O 4-> 03 4-> ft) CS ME. Ih O 60 d 3 3 w <3 CD f2 a C c O 3 O 0 3 O Ih < fc cu 5 u '1 2 > 12 >, s S 03 o > 44 o 3 cu CU 43 3 ►J O w o O fa o fa fa 6 CM co T»< LO «D t" 00 a o £ Plate 1. ■ -,!»»*! fa* '&8 L.W. DEL. AD. NAT. Chapter I. CRANE-FLIES AND GNATS. On plate 1 are shewn typical specimens of Crane- flies (Tipulidce) and of Gnats (Chironomida), etc. In dressing Crane-flies it is as well to put a few turns of stiff cock hackle about the thorax to stiffen the wings and also to help the fly to float buoyantly. An excellent imitation of their long legs may be made by knotting the feather fibres as shewn on plate 1. The Crane-flies are exceedingly plentiful and various in size and colour, although most of the larger ones are of a brownish shade, and the distinguishing characteristic of all of them is their long trailing legs, this and their single pair of wings make the group almost unmistakable. Although few of them have a true aquatic history, many of them breed in damp places, and are continually dropping on the water, or alternatively touching the surface and rising a short distance, particularly is this the case in windy weather, when they are frequently on the water in hundreds. Many are seen on the water at times, lying with their wings out-stretched, too exhausted to lift their long legs from the surface. Some members of the family are in evidence quite early in the season, the largest come on about May, and continue to be seen till the end of the season. 24 CRANE-FLIES AND GNATS. The speckled one, No. 3, is often seen flying in swarms over the water in quiet corners on Summer evenings. No. 4 is sometimes called the Gravel Spider. It is found on the gravel beds of rivers, and is often seen quietly floating down stream standing on the water ; on some streams this insect swarms on the dry gravel in countless thousands about the middle of May. No. 5 is a very common yellow variety found about the grassy or reedy margins in May and June. No. 6 is an Olive Coloured Gnat and a great favourite with me, either the winged or hackled imitations are exceedingly successful, they float well, and dressed in various sizes to suit the different waters, are exceedingly useful lures. It seems rather invidious to praise the Olive Gnat so much when its brethren, the black, the green, the ruby, and the brown Gnat are at hand, and each in its turn is quite capable of upholding the high opinion we have formed of the Gnat tribe as patterns well worthy of attention and careful imitation. All these Gnats have a true aquatic history, and may be seen emerging from the pupal stage on the surface of the water, then they either take to flight or quietly drift ashore or down stream as the case may be. On a calm summer evening a Gnat on a No. 0 0 hook will often do great execution, when a more heavily dressed fly will meet with but scanty notice. The Brown Gnat is most in evidence towards the end of the season, when it is quite a favourite. CRANE-FLIES AND GNATS. 25 I may fairly say that Gnats have often succeeded in taking shy highly educated fish when other lures failed ; and they have turned up trumps when for a time at least, the success or failure of an expedition was in the balance. They must be dressed on the small side and not too bushy, and we prefer a fairly heavy thorax for two reasons : first, because it is true to nature, and secondly, because the artificial so made, floats better as the herl both holds oil and increases the buoyancy of the fly by surface tension, exposing as it does innumerable fine fibres of feather. Some fly fishers may be surprised that the first chapter should be devoted to the Gnats ; but the reason for this is, that they are ubiquitous, in the high mountain becks or tarns, on the water meadows, by the reservoir, or lake, or wherever trout, or other fish are to be caught, whereas many of the other flies are locally abundant only. From the early Spring to the late Autumn Gnats may be found, and a careful selection of artificial Gnats of representative colours will almost certainly provide a fly which will give sport, be the conditions ever so fine, on the one hand, or boisterous and rough on the other. The bodies of artificial Gnats should be smooth and banded, with a lighter or darker tinge in contrast to the general colour. The wings of most Gnats are quite insignificant, and in dressing an imitation it is usual to make it as a hackle fly only, but if desired, wings may be added, 26 CRANE-.FLIES AND GNATS. using two fine whole cock hackle points for the purpose ; those of a pure grey blue or with a slight speckle are usually as near to nature as can be obtained. If the contents of the stomach of trout and grayling be examined, many specimens of flies are found, but very frequently thousands of Gnats and Gnat larvae are the principal contents. If the fish are rising freely the fly should be used dry, or at any rate fished near the surface ; if, on the other hand, they are bulging and feeding on the larvae, a sunk fly is more useful and efficacious, especially if dressed long in hackle and fished " lively " in the water. Generally speaking, the early season brings forth dark coloured Gnats, and then, as the brighter, warmer weather comes on, those of the lighter and brighter colours become more abundant. Plate 1 gives nine figures of fairly assorted colours, and each pattern given is the result of observation, careful selection, and experience. All the Gnats are drawn from life, and the artificials from patterns of proved merit. All Gnats have cilia or fine hair-like processes on the body, hence the use of tinsel, as described in the chapter on materials. There are many more Gnats and small Crane-flies than those we have described (about 400 in all), but the object of this book is to present a selection of the most useful and representative members of each class, not to enter into an exhaustive treatise on the infinite varieties of nature, which would only complicate matters and be of no practical use to the angler. TWO-WINGED FLIES DIPTERA. Q W 1-4 * Q W o 53 o a fa q o cj o fa fa fa fa o O fa fa bj q 0 a o X U Q fa < << G QCQ < O rt o o o ..a 4< Jg •SJJ eg «-a >. 4> in W H O O J, o 2 it* if' rt ** 6o *> _* w _ — ^ 4) t3 S3 4) A O O T3 2 ci « — 4> > 4> rt ^; ■a a il H <3 *J 4> _ >> 9. u — . 0 fa <— 4) en 3 4> ^ X? T3 C Co > ^O O K ,fi H o o ->-> © 'C ^ - .£f ~ 0 1 1 J2 "^ •— 2 c.5 * fa lo OOfa O £ fa O O 3 , A ^- i! -C A Body. ■3 rt A 52 3 f -3 '3 ,. u u u u -^ "0^0 U 0 _, 4- 4) i -OOOC^rt^j-u g S g £ Si2 o^ M : - -tl 0 S rt ° A Ch fa Hgn K fa GO fa fa fa A u w — o o o «! y, t« , c : ,a A A A 1 Si s m s 41 0 c 4) O 4) c 1 1 1 1 ;> 3 Oh r ft, 3 0.0 3 cj C u fa fa a > fa fa U i-, id ■a s ^ 4) — ' O A a « ^ 'c > *°JO O £-°fa 4J O >, „ A A 0 - •- A j- Thora £flg-g&>!i! fa fa OQffl fa in A v- n u . c .C fa Q Q -bd 4>^-J >>t 3 *o X s 3 y ,14 3 O Ji .> 4) to O W fa 4> - 2 "u -M S £ rt o O A-& 0 O - ° - , M ° * 4> " C -^ 0 4> .' fa . 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DEL. AD. NAT. Chapter III. MAYFLIES, &C—EPHEMERIDJS. Plate 3. The Green Drake (fig. 29) is so well known to anglers that it requires little 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, swallows, 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. 35 36 MAYFLIES, &C.—EPHEMERIDM. Fig. 33, the Sulphur Dun, appears later in the season, is abundant in July and August, and is a favourite with the fish tribes. Fig. 34, the Copper Spinner, is a handsome insect, and well worth attention. Fig. 35 is very abundant in June, and either dressed as shewn, or with a body light coloured at the tail, and dark towards the thorax, is a distinct success. The Drakes recall glorious days with big fish and sunshine and a merry breeze, and again, squally winds, rough waters, and disappointments, but, running through all associations is one of longing to be there again and put one's skill and luck to the test once more, and a feeling of certainty that on the next occasion greater success and better sport would be certain to result from one's efforts. Although a pleasure may be ephemeral, the joy of anticipation is considerable, the preparation for an excursion, when word is sent that the Mayfly is up, s great, and the memory of such is a joy which lasts to the end of one's life. DUNS, SPINNERS, &C.—EPHEMERIDM. w H < Si Oh o H w CO w CM CO co" M o 3 r . — . - -w cr ? g co — ^3 CQ K < +» -U ^£ *> co c en Ri 3 ri CJ o ■ CO 3^ tn O 3 c3 O •^ "co -^ o 8 3 § 3 3 CO o <: H co : : : -*-3 O ^ 4) O o ^ c CO CO u « « cy "dj3 ? "S ex.- " w > » S 3 .£ 3 .£ O O o O O CQ O CQ O "3 CO o CO n H 1 % \ 1 3 '4j W 2 "o 2 "o 1 2 1 o 2 "o O O O o ;— i cd c3 •a c H " 5 CO CO 5 * « o — r O — i ><" 3 cr 3 — CO ~ CO 3 >-' S 9 -3 3 -3 3 CO > Q O PQ C & '3 — x a CQ o 3 ^ w u ffl CQ O C71 >^ CO t3 > rt -,3 Q O ■ 0«u co w ^ .bog .-bog £ o ^ o o (0 Ph ■ bo b 2 3 3 CO Wings. bo bo be > tUO fc£ u en aj 3 TlIOR; 3 ^ 03 o s» c bo bo cr CO CO > > - O a "3 pq o tf Q w o o CQ O O Q Ph in C0T3 -g -£ o o CO 3 ° S o 3 CO - « S ° ^ r-f IH 33 2 rt O CQ Q > O O W Ph C fi 3 CO a o CO o 1/1 ei •s > IS s o CO CO 1° 'C i— i 10 _co "cd Ph f~ H ,_ ■3 o | 1 ? 3 v 3 _ co -r5 co T3 CO 3 CO to (4 w — o § => * * o | •a 33 O : o o 3 o o ; ; CO > • *-« o "o o ft •3 bl rt CO Ih w Ih CO « P* PQ O Q Dh O O O Oh 1 > T3 i- c 3 3 Q 3 CO CO ^ c M 3 i Q u, 3 3 3 > 3 3*Q Z3 CO •3 3 Name. e ;3 cj o e bCQ ~ Q Sro"^ S W in & H co 0) 3 co co □ o p -j s"1 r, ^ co O is •" rf ^ o o o O -. g Ph q 6 CO t~- 00 05 o »-^ * TJ1 ^H< ^}4 ^p tH Plate 4 S 43 44 f u. 1 45 P 46 - - QCi 9 4,9 * M F ? 47 — -»•.»• 49 L.W. DE L. AD. NAT. Chapter IV. DUNS, SPINNERS, Scc—EPHEMERIDM. Plate 4. The first to claim the would-be angler's attention, and one which has probably been more successfully imitated and generally used than any, is the March Brown shewn in fig. 36. There are several varieties which go by this name, and they vary considerably in size and shade, but the general characteristics are the same, mottled wings, yellow and brown body, and long tails. It is dressed in all sizes, from the smallest trout to salmon flv, and being typical of a mottled insect, does equally well in all. At times a variation in pattern kills better than the normal pattern, a gilt body is useful on a bright day, and a dyed claret hackle is a useful addition in a high water. Fig. 37 is an Early Olive Dun, and being of a typical insect colour, does equal execution to the March Brown, and appears early in April. After a few days it changes into a Brown and Yellow Spinner, as shewn on fig. 38. Fig. 39 is the Large Red Spinner, which is the imago of the March Brown. We were never satisfied with the success of the dressing of the Spinners, either as imitations or lures, until we hit on the device of using various bright coloured hackles to suggest the colour of their wings ; in this way a suggestion of the beauty of this iridescent effect may be obtained, and the result has quite justified the experiment. By coloured hackles are meant fibres of 39 40 DUNS, SPINNERS, &C.—EPHEMERIDJB. bright glassy hackles, dyed red, yellow, green or violet, but these must be used carefully to obtain the desired effect — a preponderance of any one colour will ruin the effect. Good glassy grey cock hackle points make very effective wings, either dressed upright or spent wise. Fig. 40 is the Orange Tailed or Autumn Spinner, and a successful lure late in the season. Fig. 41 is the Small Green Dun, very abundant at times on the Tanat, and one with which we have had great sport on several occasions. Fig. 42 is the Spinner, noticeable at the same time, and equally useful. Figs. 43 and 44 are a Pale Olive, and its Spinner always useful when in doubt what to try. Fig. 45 is the Jenny Spinner, which is one of the varieties of doutbful success, coming on when insect life is rife, the fish sorely pressed by anglers ; being very small in size, many fish are pricked and few caught with this imitation as a rule. Fig. 46 is the Medium Olive Dun, a well tried and established favourite. Fig. 47 is the Pale Evening Dun, which rises in count- less myriads from many waters, and is quite a success at times, but it must be dressed small. Fig. 48 is a Dark Olive Dun, preferable to its lighter brethren when dark clouds over-cast the sky. Fig. 49 is the Whirling Blue Dun, which, by the casual observer, is sometimes mistaken for a March Brown on account of its size and dusky upright wings. DUNS, SPINNERS, &C.—EPHEMERIDM. 41 We have great diffidence in saying much about the EphemeridcB, as so much has been written already by various writers, but we venture to believe that the dressings of the Spinners will find favour with, at least, some of our brother anglers. We have had our dressing tested by several good dry fly men, who report favourably on it. The general mistake amongst writers on the subject is to magnify the importance of this class of flies to the exclusion of almost all others. There are only forty varieties of Ephcmevidce generally recognised as indigenous in this country, and considering the many other species which also have a true aquatic history and wide distribution, we consider, from the angling point of view, that this is a great mistake, and at times is highly detrimental to the sport to be obtained with an artificial fly. Unfortunately the custom very largely prevails of dressing almost all artificials " up winged/' and this is one reason why so few anglers have a just sense of pro- portion with regard to the proper place of the EphemeridcB in the equipment of the fly fisher. STONE FLIES.— PERLIDM. id hi w H < i-l CO W fa w o H CO M O »ri W 0 Q PQ Q PQ w Q Q PQ Q 0 o O O PQ PQ < PQ < o PQ PQ ■ /. s "3 73 73 y « 9 4) O y CJ 00 0 0 en .3 tc o tc u to 0 tc J Cj t3 > 'O > T3 C c§ T) fe 'a < ■3* - 1 •C 5 -C : = 4-> J3 -H 0) •£ T3 3 4J 1 '5 : 8* S « H "75 ^ >S Q.H — u C3 « ri O rt c3 i Ph I* O, O Ph > Pm D 0> 4) 4J 1) «j 0 fee .5P »-• 6C l- tD u to u " -3 T3 'S 13 "S "O 73 n ^o" ? 4> # « ? t> '% £ O O v- _ — ,3 ,3 33 2 a ^ ~ ID 3: 2 u^+'a 75 '3 73 '3 73 '3 73 ^ C* o a o a O O? 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O «*H P 1 1 1 w H o > y C ^ ^ mo O 3 VJ 0 u V 3 u PQ >< PQ PQ 1 j>> =2 5 1 * y w ►. b 1 U 4) O l-< C3 O 5S fa y y s "g 3T3 fe pq ;*>>* js pj^ & a !^H ^ fe Z <; O "S W -- >> — 73 -2 ^ ^ -. v^ fe TS 73co3 >3 ^Pw "3 " re v. 3 03 Q in \m >h s 3 >^ ca v W | ^ Q ^ >H W iE S K K K = d O f V< • ' \ - Is - jr- \ \ J Si .. •••■ 3 - " % .W. DEL. AD. NAT. Chapter V. STONE FLIES— PERLIDM. Plate 5. The Large Stone Fly shown in fig. 50 (the female insect) is the Mayfly of the North of England, and a great favourite with most anglers, though more used in its natural state than as an artificial. The male insect, or Jack, with short wings, is shown on fig 50a ; two of these are frequently used on one hook The larva, of the Mayfly or Creeper, shown on fig 506, is frequently used in April and May as a lure, and fished up stream in rapid water in the manner favoured bv up-stream worm fishers. The February Red (fig. 51) is a very useful fly (early in the season particularly so) . The body is a rich burnt sienna colour, and the wings dark grey, which when held up to the light have a fine reddish brown running through them The Yellow Sally (fig. 52) is a great favourite of mine and does exceedingly well when dressed finely with good glassy wings, heavy woolly imitations of this fly being worthless. .., ,, The Early Brown (fig. 53) is something like the February Red, but has a dark body and wings with a more marked mottle in them. The Small Yellow Sally (fig. 54) is another favourite, though for a time its imitation was my despair. How- 45 46 STONE FLIES— PERLIDM. ever, dyed gut or condor quill as a body, and really glassy hackle points for the wings and legs, have proved the undoing of many trout since then. The Willow Fly (fig. 55) comes on later in the season. It is seen flying in the sunshine at times in thousands, gently drifting before the wind, and is also a great favourite. For grayling a small orange tag representing the egg sac of the female fly is a useful addition. The small Dark Needle Fly (fig. 56) is found in abundance on most stony streams, and is the last type we propose to show of this interesting and useful family of flies. Unfortunately, in the English language, there is no book giving a complete account of the Stone Flies (Perlidce), though some work has been done by members of the Ray, Linnean, and other societies, and it is stated that there are about thirty varieties indigenous to this country. As their name suggests, all frequent stony rapid streams, and in consequence their imitations are of the highest importance to anglers in the upper waters of our rivers. They hatch out as early as February, and some members of the family are with us until after the angling season closes. The sight of this plate recalls many happy days of glorious success with baskets of fine fish, taken with the Large Stone Fly when the elements were capricious and anything but favourable, also when the conditions were fine and bright, and the fish were taken from amongst the stones, almost on the gravel beds, as well as when offered in the heavier streams amongst the rocks, STONE FLIES— PERLIDM. 47 The Yellow Sally recalls still wilder scenes amongst the moors ; climbs past waterfalls ; the stalking of the spotted beauties in the pools ; and the trudge home again in the dusk, wet, tired, and hungry, but withal happy and contented — the cry of the plovers and curlews and a host of other sights and sounds far from the madding crowd — I have been and still would go ! The Willow Fly recalls lower reaches mostly, warmer weather, and balmy Autumn afternoons with a blue haze and a yellow sun, and fine mixed baskets of trout and grayling. All the PerlidcB are old friends, however, and it seems invidious to mention one without saying some- thing pretty of each in turn. These flies look very important on the wing, but when at rest, comparatively small, owing to the close way in which the wings are folded up. Theakston calls them " Browns " owing to the brown colour which appears when they are viewed against the light, principally due to the reddish brown tinge of the nervures of the wings. Hackled imitations which are frequently highly successful are shown, but these must be dressed on very small hooks (for the upper waters especially). SEDGE FLIES.-TRICHOPTERA. D 49 - 5- g< — — 7. n la 3 — : to M r a z ^ X - ■ — ■J-. 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This plate might aptly be called " mixed pickles," as shown thereon, is a variety of insects of various tribes and species, all of interest to anglers, either as types or foundations for " fancy flies," and because they are all met with frequently in considerable numbers by the waterside. Fig. 75 is the beautiful Green Lacewing (Hemerobius alba), with gorgeous wings, and yet a moderate flier. It is known to anglers as " the Golden-eyed Gauze Wing," and usually appears about July, when it is frequently seen on the water with wings extended. Fig. 76 is the small Blue Lacewing (Hemerobius nervosus), which is at times seen fluttering over the water in a cloud, and from its hovering flight may be taken for a Caddis-fly, but the smooth, shining, closely nerved wings at once disclose its identity on closer inspection. Fig. 77, the small Yellow Lacewing (Hemerobius hirtus), is common in the latter part of the season, particularly where there is bracken about, and its imitation is frequently a successful lure. Fig. 78, of which I know no popular name, is Nematus niger. It is sometimes wrongly called the Hawthorn Fly, and is abundant everywhere about April and May. 63 64 VARIOUS FLIES— HYMENOPTERA, &c. Fig. 79 is Nematus lucidus. It is to be seen sitting on the rushes from April to September, and on windy days especially is a lure worth trying. Fig. 80 is the Alder Fly (Sialis lutaria), which sitteth on the fence when not buzzing about the water. At times it is an irresistible lure, and again at other seasons, the fish positively won't look at it, but generally speaking, it is held in high esteem by anglers, particularly as an evening fly. Fig. 81 is a beautiful insect ; it is very widely distributed, and I have frequently seen it taken by trout (Ctenichneumon extensorius). Fig. 82 is Hylotoma pagana. It appears about August, and for a time is exceedingly abundant, but has a short season only, during which, however, it is useful on a windy day. Fig. 83 is a Common Ichneumon (Pachymerus calcitrator), the Orange Fly of Ronalds, and is most useful in wooded streams, where it seems to get on the water very frequently. Fig. 84 is one of the small Wasps (Allantus arcuatus), and is found alongside the Soldier Beetle on the flowers of the hemlock and other umbelliferous plants. It is very highly spoken of as a lure, on some Welsh rivers especially. Fig. 85 is one of the most beautiful flies indigenous to this country. It is the Fire Tail (Chrysis ignita), and is an enemy to the solitary wasp in whose nests it lays its eggs, the larvae, on hatching out, preying on the young wasps. It is quite common, but so quick on VARIOUS FLIES— HYMENOPTERA, &c. 65 the wing, that it is most difficult to catch. It delights in sunshine, and its brilliant colours which change with every movement — now red, now green, now blue- are beautiful in the extreme. On bright days we have done well with its imitation in deep waters. Fig. 86 is another Ichneumon fly (Green nematus). It is very common, and appears about June and after. It is a fine green colour, and makes a capital lure. Fig. 87 is a Dipteron, which appears regularly in August (Oxycera trilineata). It is another beautiful fly, and its fine blending of green and black and red make a very fine and alluring combination in an artificial. Fig. 88 is the Grass Bug, one of the Hemiptera. It appears in thousands in some localities when the grass is getting long, and on a windy day is well worth trying. There is also another of this species, slightly smaller than the brown one here figured, it is green in colour. Fig. 89 is a small Green Aphis, similar to those found on rose trees. It often occurs in countless numbers on marginal plants and bushes, and a strong gust of wind blows it on to the water, often causing a wild rise of trout, grayling, and other fish. Fig. 90 is another of the Hemiptera, getting on the water in numbers under similar conditions. Its delicate combination of green and red suggested a fly which has been described by some as a " marvel," it certainly deserves to be classed as " useful." E 66 VARIOUS FLIES— HYMENOPTERA, &c. Fig. 91 is the largest of the Spit Insects, or Frog Hoppers. In the Autumn it jumps off the marginal plants into the water in great numbers, and frequently the fish rising along the edge, are quietly taking this fly. The only fly shown on this plate which has a true aquatic history is the Alder Fly, and yet all the others are continually met with at the waterside, and there are slack times when considerable success may even attend the use of an uncommon fly. There may be a north or east wind, or the hatch of aquatic insects may be stopped by a fall of tempera- ture, then the long shore insects, deprived of their customary alertness and briskness by the cold and lack of sunshine, are carried over and drop on to the water, the fish being only too glad to supplement their food supply with these unaccustomed dainties. The appearance of a strange insect on the water immediately stimulates the curiosity of the fish, and if an imitation is only really life-like, and offered in a presentable manner, it will command a measure of success. The Sockdolager, in his reedy haunts, has a know- ledge of entomology, which puts to shame that of most anglers, and no doubt considers himself a connoisseur in the matter of insect dainties. One has only to lie hidden from view and feed an old trout with different insects, and watch the judicial air with which he takes the strange ones and gently tastes them, to be convinced of this fact. It has seemed to me that as the Autumn comes on VARIOUS FLIES— HYMENOPTERA, &c. 67 green insects are much to the fore, and greenish imitations are well worth trying. There are quite a number of green Hemiptera and Aphidce, to say nothing of the other families which have numerous green species. One Autumn afternoon I was wading a long reach of gravel bed, and not a fish was seen rising, then a sudden squall struck the trees, and immediately fish were rising by hundreds. Careful watching revealed the fact that on the surface of the water were thousands of small green insects, as shown on figures 89 and 90. The angler who has his wits about him is ever on the look out for what is going on around him, and is quick to turn chances like that just mentioned, to immediate advantage. I hope these remarks have justified the inclusion of this plate of non-aquatic insects, although I know some who may consider it unorthodox, even if not. savouring of quackery. SPIDERS, Scc.—ARANEIDA, &c. 69 OS w i-l o o P fa Q fa 0 fa Q 0 fa < fa P fa P fa P fa P fa m o o -n i- O) X! 1) tn 3 > 3 o C 0 a 3 3 fa o ^ "2 '3 "o lse3 l-l o fa 3 •* o ,r- y "> .2 ° 5 o "o 41 3 fa 1- +J O f 3 u o o fa ft a o fa u 4) X! .M o o o (3 o fa T3 u, 7 h in 3 MO p 3 t5 -t-> 3 -M -M "J . «S . O t| ^ 3 3 S r«S 4) •;; 4$ ft rt ft Ih o fa oo os o © >1£ A I si, ^2 5 ^ 3 ml .5 ^ 'rt U fa © © o > o ^^ O 3 id o 3 4> P u O 5 "36 37 3& 39 4o 41 42 4*5 44 45 4fe 47 4& 49 L.W. DEL AD NAT. Chapter X. HACKLES. Plate 10. The Coch-y-bonddu is a very difficult feather to get in small sizes. It is, however, No. 1. much more plentiful in larger sizes, as the small feathers are apt to be too black. The example shown is a good one, having good black, " list " next the quill, then good deep red and black tips. It is the black No. 2. tips which distinguish it from No. 2. which is known as a " Furnace Hackle." (Nos. 3, 4, 5) call for no special comment, except that it will be noted that No. 5, being Nos. 3-4-5. from a young bird is much worse in form than Nos. 3 and 4 which are from older birds and longer No. 6. in the point. No. 6— a real, bright " brassy " — is not met every day. Many writers describe a dun coloured feather with yellow points as a " brassy " we prefer to call a shiny yellow by this name to distinguish it from a ' ' brassy dun," i.e. the dun with brassy or yellow points. It is the best possible base for dying on, and also makes first rate wings for " Lacewings " and 'Yellow Sallies," &c. 78 HACKLES. The dark and light badgers are favourites for many hackled and wing flies, and No. 8, Nos. 7-9. " black yellow black," is the original hackle of Greenwell's Glory. The Brown Badger is not used as much as it might be. It makes a very good imi- No. 10. tation of brown and white legs, which are often seen in nature. Three shades from the neck of a game hen. These are sometimes called " honey Nos. 11-12-13. duns," and may be obtained in a very wide range of shades, most of them being useful. Range from buff to deep cinnamon, and are all useful ; they are all hen feathers, and for Nos. 14-15-16-17. Caddis-flies are very suitable. Small hackles of these colours are great favourites with grayling. Various colours of " Crees " ; the finest in the markings are the most useful, and Nos. 18-21 the tips of the small feathers make first rate wings for gnats and small stone flies. No. 22. Black Cock, a very useful feather for many purposes. No. 23. Black hen of a smoky colour, also very useful. No. 24. Is a lustrous black green, rather stiffer, and floats better than No. 23. No. 25. When held up to the light this is many shades lighter, and has a fine glassy grey colour. HACKLES. 79 No. 26. Is a hen feather, duller of fibre, but nearly the same colour. No. 27. Is a fine glassy light Andalusian cock of good quality. Nos. 28-29. Are " rusty " blues, that is : when held up to the light they have a distinct brownish red tinge, especially at the tips. Nos. 30-31-32. Are very much sought after ; they are honey duns of three shades, being the colour of rather dark old honey along the quills, and new honey at the tips of the fibres. The merlin or blue hawk back, provides excellent pale blue, much sought after by No. 33. grayling fishers ; the heron and the tern or sea-swallow also yield some- what similar feathers. No. 34. The coot provides some very good hackles on the back, the wings, and also under the wings. The various snipe, sand pipers, stints, dunlins, and other shore birds give feathers No. 35. of this type, though one of the best is under the wing of the jack-snipe. No. 36. The starling's underwing provides this feather, which is often palmed off as a dotteril for hackles of that ilk. 80 HACKLES. The grey partridge is useful, but not as generally so as the brown one, which will Nos. 37-38. kill with or without a wing and with almost any coloured body, where the trout are not over educated. Nos. 39-40. From the back and underwing of the woodcock ; they are used both as hackle or wing feathers. No. 41. The brown owl, used as a hackle imitation of a Caddis-fly. Nos. 42-43-44. These are grouse hackles of very varied colour, and all useful. No. 45. This is a landrail hackle of very useful colour, as are almost all the feathers on this bird. No. 46. The curlew, much used for hackle flies on the moors where the bird abounds. No. 47. The golden plover, also useful, the contrast between the yellow and the dark ash colour, making fine speckled legs. No. 48. The ibis, used for tags, heads, and tails, and on occasion, legs, when a freak is wanted. The small parakeet, which is a fine insect green, and sometimes takes both trout and No. 49. grayling when they are skittish and refuse more commonplace diet. No. 50. The peewit crest ; very useful when a long fine hackle is desired. HACKLES. 81 The best way to judge of the real quality of a hackle is to try the texture and then hold it up to the light, when a much truer judgment may be formed of its real colour than by looking at it by reflected light. The various dyed hackles shown are those used when attempting to obtain an No. 51. iridescent effect in the fly. As many find difficulty in understanding how the tricolour feathers are dyed, I will briefly describe the process. First choose bright glassy hackles and after thoroughly washing them, boil in yellow dye, again thoroughly rinse in clean water and dry, then one end may be dipped in scarlet dye and the other in green, rinsing and drying the feathers between each operation. In doing a large number at once a cramping device is employed to avoid the dye creeping and to generally facilitate the process, like many things it is quite simple when explained, though not quite so obvious until several unsuccessful attempts lead to the solution of the problem. I am reminded that starling hackles are not included in the list given and illustrated, this is simply an oversight not because their usefulness for small flies is unap- preciated, generally speaking there are such an innumerable number of feathers which may be used that it is impossible even to name let alone illustrate them all. F FEATHERS FOR FLIES' WINGS. 83 Plate 11. FEATHERS FOR FLIES' WINGS. 1. Cock Pheasant— Wing. 2. Hen Pheasant — Wing. 3. Cock Pheasant — Tail. 4. Cock Pheasant — Wing. 5. Hen Pheasant — Tail. 6. Orpington Cock. 7. Capercailzie. 8, 9. Game Hen. 10, 11. Bittern. 84 Plato 11. L.W. DEL AD. NAT Chapter XL FEATHERS FOR FLIES' WINGS. Plate 11. Fig. 1. This is from the wing of a cock pheasant, and is one of the feathers commonly used for a March Brown ; it is an easy feather to manipulate. Fig. 2. No. 2 is also a secondary wing feather from the wing of a hen pheasant, and is used for March Browns, and also for Sedges. Fig. 3. Is from the tail of a cock pheasant, and is very good in colour and speckle, but not good to work, as the fibres do not marry well ; the Alder wing is sometimes made from this feather. Fig. 4. Similar to No. 1, but from a lighter coloured bird. Fig. 5. Tail feather from a hen pheasant, a useful Sedge colour. Fig. 6. From an orpington cock ; a fine cinnamon, and easy to work. Fig. 7. This and many other varieties of finely speckled feathers are obtained from the capercailzie. Figs. 8-9. Were taken from a game hen, and are fine in the speckle, and good working feathers ; Alders and March Browns are some- times imitated with this feather. 85 86 FEATHERS FOR FLIES' WINGS. Figs. 10-11. Are bittern feathers, which have a great variety of colour and marking ; no finer imitation can be found for some of the Sedges, &c. The fibre is soft and silky and marries very well. All feathers consist of two main portions, viz. : — The central quill or " rachis " from which spring the fibres known as "barbs" from which in many feathers branch smaller fibres called " barbules," in good cock hackles the latter are absent, with the result that they present only a hard glassy surface to the water and float better in consequence. When these barbules interlock strongly the feathers are said to " marry " well, and as a consequence they make excellent wings for artificial flies, not splitting up as a feather will in which the barbules are less developed. FEATHERS FOR FLIES' WINGS. S7 Plate 12. FEATHERS FOR FLIES' WINGS. 12, 13, 14. Jay. 15. French Partridge Wing. 16, 17. Partridge Tail. 18. Partridge Wing. 19. Egyptian Quail. 20, 21, 22. Grouse. 23, 24. Woodcock Wing. 25, 26, 27. Brown Owl. 28, 29. Nightjar. 30, 31. Landrail. w Plate 12. L.W. DEL. AD.HAT Chapter XII. FEATHERS FOR FLIES' WINGS. Plate 12. Figs. 12-13-14. Are Jay feathers, fine and trans- parent in the fibre, and very good in colour — the cinnamon for Sedges and the grey for EphemeridcB. Fig. 15. Is from the wing of a French partridge, and very useful for Sedges. Easy to work. Figs. 16-17 Tail feathers from a partridge, good in colour but long in the fibre, and very apt to break up rather badly. Fig. 18. Partridge wing ; fine in colour and easy to work, just right for a Grass Moth or a small Sedge. Fig. 19. A quail wing feather, used whole to imitate the big sedge. " Grandis " Figs. 20-21-22. Grouse feathers. There are also several other shades on a grouse, equally good and useful, both in colour and texture. Figs. 23-24. Woodcock wing feathers ; probably about the easiest to manipulate as wings, and useful in quite a number of flies, e.g. Oak Fly, Sedges, etc. 89 90 FEATHERS FOR FLIES' WINGS. Figs. 25-26-27. Are from a brown owl. For Sedges they are very good, especially the larger ones, but they must either be tied thick or supported, as they turn very soft after getting soaked. Figs. 28-29. Good in colour and markings for dark Sedges, but all night-jar feathers soon knock to pieces, being so soft and fluffy, but for wet flies they are very good indeed, while they last. Figs. 30-31. Are from a landrail, which is a grand bird for the fly-dresser. The feathers are pleasant to work, and very attractive to the fish. FEATHERS FOR FLIES' WINGS. 01 Plate 13. FEATHERS FOR FLIES' WINGS 32, 33. Golden Pheasant. 34. Tern or Sea Swallow. 35. Starling. 36. Blackbird. 37. Waterhen. 38. Peacock Sword. 30, 40. Heron. 41. Indian Runner Duck. 42. Teal. 43, 44. Widgeon. 45. Mallard. 46. Bustard. 47. Teal — Breast. !« Plate 13 47 L.W. DEL. AD. NAT. Chapter XIII. FEATHERS FOR FLIES' WINGS. Plate 13. Figs. 32-33. Are from a golden pheasant. No. 32 is used for wing cases (Elytra) in dressing beetles, where a dark colour with a metallic gloss is required. The orange and black provides a very good imitation of the Soldier Beetle. Single fibres are also useful for the tails of EphemeridcB, etc. Fig. 34. Is from a tern or sea swallow, which has a number of hackles as well as wing feathers of a very delicate pale blue grey, decidedly suggestive of a variety of small Duns. Grayling esteem this colour highly. Fig. 35. From our old favourite the starling, which, although one of the commonest, is among the most useful of birds, providing also small dark glossy hackles of fine quality. Fig. 36. Blackbird ; good alike in texture and colour for a dark coloured Dun. Fig. 37. Coot or waterhen wing ; a fine texture, and possessing just the right brownish tinge for many of the Stone flies. 93 94 FEATHERS FOR FLIES' WINGS. Fig. 38. Peacock sword. Having been fre- quently asked what was meant by a sword, and also where the best green body herls are obtainable, we decide to illustrate this feather. Figs. 39-40. Heron feathers, rather coarse in the fibre. Excepting the smaller feathers, all beautiful in colour, and the herl from a large feather makes a fine grey blue body. Fig. 41. Indian Runner duck, which, like all the other ducks, yields some very beautiful feathers. Fig. 42. Teal ; a beautiful black feather with white lines, more useful for sea trout than for brownies. Figs. 43-44. Widgeon (No. 43), of a rich velvety black with white edge ; makes good Sedge's wings, and also Elytra for Beetles. No. 44 has a strong showy marking, and is sometimes used for Mayflies. Fig. 45. The brown mallard, which was at one time used for the wings of a great number of flies. The amateur may find difficulty in tying this and other duck feathers when used in sections. The best way is to cut out the desired section with a piece of quill attached, and cut this quill off after the wing is tied in position on the hook — not before. Fig. 46. This is a rather expensive feather from a bustard. It is a great favourite, and a couple of fibres are very attractive as tails to FEATHERS FOR FLIES' WINGS. 95 almost any fly. The feathers are, unfortunately, soft, and the fibres break off short with continuous use. Fig. 47. Breast feathers from a teal ; although almost any duck will yield feathers like this. The feathers having the finest speckle are those obtained from the Canadian Wood Duck, the Egyptian Goose, or the Indian Runner Duck. MATERIALS. Their Selection. Collection. Storage. w o Materials *"W&\ 08 < Chapter XIV. MATERIALS. Their Selection. Collection. Storage. The selection of suitable materials contributes largely to the success of an artificial fly. Before any material can be considered suitable for use, it should be submitted to the most critical examination with regard to its colour, texture, strength, and last, though not the least, its durability under the very searching tests to which it will be put later on. It is not the least use employing a delicate shade of material to match some delicate insect, when such material will totally alter its colour on coming in contact with either oil or water the first time it is used. This is not confined to silks and textile materials, some feathers being very bad in this respect. There is a beautiful blue American bird called a Roller, the feathers of which turn a curious puce colour in the water, but quite regain their lovely lustrous blue when again dried, and this alteration of colour by immersion in water is not confined to the feathers of the Roller. The conclusion we came to some years ago was to totally discard silk as a body material, Silk. except for tying or packing purposes under tinsel. It is most mortify- ing to expend considerable time and pains in exactly matching some delicate dun, and then find the colour entirely disappear the first time it is used. Therefore, 99 100 MATERIALS. for bodies, the best material of all, wherever suitable in texture and size, is beyond doubt Quill. a barb taken from some large feather from a condor, peacock, turkey or similar bird, or carefully stripped from the rachis of a small feather. As described elsewhere the rachis is the main rib or quill of any feather and the barbs are the fibres branching from them and the barbules branch from the barbs. We here refer to barbs composed of a narrow flat quill like substance smooth and polished on one side, dull on the other from these narrow " quills " the feathery barbules must be removed by careful scraping, during this To Strip operation the " quill " being held Quills. by the left thumb on a sheet of celluloid, vulcanite or similar material which will spring slightly under the pressure of the knife, this spring is found to minimize breakages during the scraping. These so called " quills " readily dye any desired colour, keep clean, do not fade, and are not affected by either oil or water. When a thicker or hairy body is required, such is usefully imitated by fibres of quill from the peacock, heron, condor, pheasant, turkey, or other bird, without being either stripped or even dyed. Raffia grass is another capital material, very tough, and a good substitute when quill Raffia. is not available, but it does not give such a good stripe or rib to the body when finished, nor does it keep its colour so well as quill, nor take quite such a brilliant dye. MATERIALS. 101 In some golf balls a fine indiarubber tape is used as a core, if this is wound tightly over a yellow or other light coloured wool, it makes a good body of an olive shade, which keeps its colour well. It is unfortunate that this material has such a limited range of colours, as it is easy to obtain and pleasant to work. Of textile materials, unmistakably the best is wool ; either mohair, sheep, seal or pig. Wool. Any of these dye readily, and will keep their colour even if soaked for months ; but bear in mind that wet materials are usually a shade darker than dry ones, therefore, it is better either to dress imitations with wet materials, or try a wet example for colour before going too far. Why does a fly when first put on, so frequently rise a fish at the first cast ? Because it is dry, reply the purists. We will ask another question : " If that same fly is waved about until it floats perfectly does it regain its first efficiency ? " No, certainly not, because it has deteriorated considerably in colour ; at least, this is the suggestion which we throw out for the careful observation and consideration of anglers. With regard to hackles for legs, they should be moderately stiff for floating flies, Hackles. and for wet flies may be quite soft in texture, providing they have the necessary strength to stand the knocking about. The soft game hackles darken much more when wetted than the harder and smoother surfaced poultry feathers. 102 MATERIALS. Generally speaking, good old birds yield better feathers than younger birds ; they are Old Birds. stronger, and in poultry such hackles possess that glassy quality so much esteemed by fly tiers, to say nothing of being longer and finer in the point. The materials used for wings are, in the great majority of cases, the secondary wing Wings. feathers, though tail and body feathers are also employed in some instances. The copying of a Dun's wing with a piece of feather is at best a very poor imitation, but, in practice, the best material found so far ; quills and scales are too hard, and make the fly twist, both whilst being cast through the air, and also in the water ; this quickly breaks even the best gut casts. We may later, possibly, find a better material than feather, but at present it is certainly the one to which the fewest objections can be raised. The fault most fly-dressers make Small Birds is in using the feathers from too for Wings. large birds, whereas excellent ones may be had from almost any of the common small birds. The obtaining of a good collection of materials is a work of time, as the items used are varied, and not all available at the same time or season. MATERIALS. 103 The various poultry hackles are best obtained as heads and necks from the poulterer, Poultry the winter months usually providing Hackles. the best feathers, when the birds are not moulting. After the scalp and neck are taken off, the skin should be carefully scraped clean, Scalps. then skin and feathers well washed with carbolic soap and water, before being pinned out to dry. Mohair may be had from some local dealers, or from Bradford, cleaned all ready Mohair. for dyeing. Peacock feathers might, until recently, be had at many fancy shops, though the sword feathers are difficult to obtain, except at tackle shops. Condor feathers may be bought at the milliners, where they are known as ' Eagle Quills. quills," but the supply depends, to a large extent, on the caprice of fashion, and as ladies wear feathers more in Winter than Summer, they are often unobtainable in the latter season, excepting wholesale from the warehouses. First quality feathers range from two shillings to half-a-crown each, but it is not Condor Quills. necessary to go to this price, as there are usually second and third quality feathers to be had, which are either locally damaged or have some of the herl frayed off. These are equally good from the fly dresser's point of view, and are obtainable at half price. 104 MATERIALS. Raffia grass is to be had from almost any nursery- man or florist, and is used by them Raffia. to tie up growing plants. A few coppers will procure an abundant supply, which may then be dyed as required. Cocoa fibre is also useful as a body material ; it may be obtained Cocoa Fibre. from the makers of matting, or a new door-mat will yield a supply on occasion. The various feathers used for wings can be obtained from the poulterer and game dealer. Wing The gamekeeper is also usually Feathers. able to supply magpie, jay, various hawks, owls, and so forth, and should these sources fail, ordinary varieties may be obtained at cheap rates from regular dealers, in fact, it is often more satisfactory to procure them through the ordinary channels of trade than from outside sources, where an exaggerated idea of their value often obtains. Lastly, there is the taxidermist, who sometimes has badly shot or spoilt skins to dispose of. To buy specimen birds is, of course, out of the question, as the price is prohibitive. The colour of these is immaterial, as the body and other materials used mask it to such Tying an extent that it shows very little, Silks. if at all ; the all important qualities it should possess are fineness and strength, the finer it is the less does it pull round in MATERIALS. 105 tying, consequently wings are put on straighter, and in every way it is easier and more pleasant to handle, when really fine. The second quality is strength ; some might put this first, but with a very fine silk an extra turn or two may be employed, which compen- sates for any moderate failure in strength. Some colours seem to be stronger than others, and in consequence, orange has established itself as our favourite, and we now seldom use any other colour. The best way to wax very fine silk is to take a small portion of good wax about the Waxing size of a pea, and warm this between Silk. the finger and thumb, then run the silk once through it, when a good coating is left on the silk, which should at once be wound on to a narrow bobbin. It increases the usefulness of this bobbin if a small hole is drilled through one flange. When tying a fly, the end of the silk is passed through this hole, and without unthreading the silk from this hole, any length can be looped off as required. If the centre of the bobbin be filled with lead, it keeps the tying silk on the fly taut during intervals of the tying operation. With regard to the hooks used in fly dressing, it is better to keep them on the small Hooks. side, fine in the wire, smooth in in the eye ; and before t}dng, examine the barb and the temper by pulling the point moderately. 106 MATERIALS. Down turned eyes are the most convenient, but fine wire and small smooth eyes are, we think, the desiderata, the bend being a secondary consideration. The present way in which hooks are numbered by the various makers is confusing in the extreme. In an endeavour to clear matters up, we have attached a letter for the hook sizes to each of our formula, and herewith append an alphabetical list of makers, and give the numbers with which they describe their hooks, in tabulated form under our equivalent letters. The list shows only the hooks within our range, and there are in all over three hundred different styles of hooks, from which we have chosen the most generally useful. It is impossible to say the exact equivalents of sizes in the various bends, as the gape, thickness of wire, length of shank, size of eye, each vary, making a hook suitable for use or otherwise at a certain size. 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Evening Crane Fly June Calm Evenings. 4. Gravel Fly April, earlier if warm Stoney streams. 5. Small Yellow Crane Fly July Lowland waters. 6. Olive Gnat May Slow running waters. 7. Black Gnat Mav J »» >> >» 8. Green Gnat End of June >» >> >> 9. Ruby Gnat June & July Slow waters 10. Brown Gnat Aug. & Sept. Generally distributed. 11. Cowdung Fly April on- wards Good in a wind 12. Hoverer August »> >> >> 13. Small Hoverer Aug. & Sept. >> tt t> 14. Silver and Black . . . May to July A splendid sun fly. 15. Black Cuss End of May A useful general fly. 16. Green Insect June to end of season One of the best sun flies. 17. Green Bottle August Useful in deep or wooded waters. 18. Oak Fly May & June Best in a wind. 19. Snipe Fly June Generally useful. 20. Hawthorn Fly ... End of May When the hawthorn is out. 21. Silver Tail End of May Excellent towards the end of the season. 142 LIST OF FLIES AND WHEN THEY APPEAR. Date of General Appearance. Remarks. 22. Small Oak Fly ... July& Aug. A good general fly. 23. Striped Hoverer ... Aug. & Sep. A useful sun fly. 24. Wood Fly July& Aug. Good for deep waters. 25. Speckles June Frequent in reedy margins. 26. Bronze Fly July& Aug. First rate in fine conditions. 27. Metallic Fly July& Aug. Especially in deep waters. 28. Blow Fly Aug. & Sep. In heavy waters especially. 29. Green Drake June Indispensable on waters 30. Dark Drake June - where a good rise takes place. 31. Yellow Dun August Ouite a favourite. 32. Turkey Brown ... May A useful general pattern. 33. Sulphur Dun June & July A good useful fly. 34. Brown Spinner ... May A useful type. 35. Brown and Yellow Spinner June Locally abundant. 36. March Brown April One of the best all round flies. 37. Early Olive April One of the best. 38. Small Red Spinner May >> >> >> 39. Red Spinner May >» ii ii 40. Yellow Tailed Spinner August A useful variation to the self coloured body. 41. Green Dun August 42. Green Spinner September Good for grayling also. 43. Olive Dun May to end ' A capital type and generally 44. Olive Spinner of season good. 45. Jenny Spinner June Useful at times. 46. Medium Olive Dun June A capital typical fly. 47. Pale Evening Dun July Useful on still days. 48. Dark Olive May Best on dark days. 49. Whirling Blue Dun August Excellent at times. 50. Stone Fly June 1 Excellent in their seasons 51. February Red Easter t on stony streams. LIST OF FLIES AND WHEN THEY APPEAR. 143 52. Yellow Sally May 53. Early Brown Easter 54. Small Yellow Sally May 55. Willow Fly Aug. & Sep. 56. Dark Needle April to end of season 57. Bustard June 58. Corncrake Sedge ... June 59. Speckled Buff Sedge July 60. Mottled Cinnamon July & Aug. 61. Grouse and Green July 62. Cinnamon Sedge ... End of May 63. Buff Sedge June 64. Pale Cinnamon Sedge June 65. Silverhorn July & Aug. 66. May Bug June 67. Cowdung Beetle April 68. Soldier Beetle June 69. Sailor Beetle June 70. Earth Beetle April to September 71. Corixa ti >> 72. Water Boatman ... April 73. Water Measurer . . . | April 74. Water Cricket | April 75. Green Lacewing ... July 76. Blue Lacewing June 77. Yellow Lacewing August 78. Sweep f April 79. Yellow Nematus ... 1 May 80. Alder Fly May Date of General Appearance. Remarks. \ Each excellent in their seasons on stony streams in any reasonable state of water. V These are all excellent as evening flies especially most useful on quietly running streams and reservoirs. Best in fine weather with a moderate wind. Very useful in a rising water. Good for tailing and bulg- ing fish. | Very good spring flies j whilst insects are scarce. 1 Useful as variants on hard fished waters. Good type of fly in its season. Excellent in its season. 144 LIST OF FLIES AND WHEN THEY APPEAR. 81. Xyloto 82. Hylotoma ... 83. Ichneumon ... 84. Sand Wasp . . . 85. Ruby Wasp 86. Green Ichneumon 87. Autumn Green 88. Grass Bug ... 89. Green Aphis 90. Green Bug . . . 91. Wren Tail ... 92. Green Spider 93. Wolf Spider ... 94. Diadem Spider 95. Red and Black Caterpillar 96. Black Ant 97. Red Ant 98. Green Caterpillar 99. Black Caterpillar 100. Paint Brush Caterpillar 101. Green Beetle 102. Small Green Beetle Date of General Appearance. August July July April July August August July Remarks. First rate at times es- pecially on wooded streams and reservoirs. A first rate grayling fly. weather in In windy meadows. Aug. & Sep. In chilly winds especially good. Tip top for grayling. At times excellent. Under the bushes it does well. September August May to September May to September May to September August August August July to September July to September July to September August August \ In a rising water it is good under bushes. Chub trout and grayling take freely. Good especially in wooded streams. These float well and have accounted for many large fish in slow moving waters. Good for grayling as well as trout. WHY DO THE FISH RISE? 145 Chapter XX. WHY DO THE FISH RISE ? In describing a fishing trip, it is curious how universal it has become to describe a rise of Duns — mostly of the olive variety ; in fact, this has become almost the classical method. Many writers give a prominence, out of all proportion, to the Olive Dun in particular, and the Ephemeridcz in general, as though they were the only class of flies worthy the attention of any honest angler. Conscious as I am of the merits of a well-dressed small olive-coloured fly, I have a notion that in a number of cases it is taken, not for a Dun at all, but because it is a typical insect colour and the general form suggests a fly. I have seen Olive Duns float over rising fish by scores at times, and not a fin stir ; but immediately a large Gnat comes along it is taken with avidity (and this has happened, not once, but on many occasions) and yet, few of the numerous writers on flies seem to deem the Gnat tribes worthy of any but the most scant notice, although these are roughly, six times as numerous as the EphemeridcB. The Culicidcv, Chirono- midcB, and Tipitlidce get on the waters in great numbers at times and in a great variety of forms, sizes, and colours. Of the first two named there are well over two hundred varieties, commonly known as Gnats, Midges or Mosquitoes ; and surely anglers would be 147 148 WHY DO THE FISH RISE? well advised in giving more attention to their claims as " fishing flies." The rise seen without any apparent hatch of flies going on, is at times clearly attributable to these small pests rising to emerge from the surface, and if at such times a carefully tied imitation is used, it is worth all the Duns in the world. The Tipulidce, which vary in size from three- sixteenths of an inch long to over two inches in length, are commonly known as Crane Flies, and the larger varieties as Daddy Long-legs, and these latter have a very alluring way of dipping along the surface of the water, especially on a breezy day towards the middle or end of the season, when the trout are getting weary of being bombarded with Duns, natural and artificial alike. Imitations of these flies float well, and I know from experience are " excellent medicine," but they must not be dressed with double bunched hackles, but lean and rakish, with long trailing legs and cock point hackle wings, and then, even old shy fish that have refused a hundred lures fall victims to their seductive charms. Nor are these the only Diptera which are seen on the water and will charm when Duns cease to have interest ; in very bright hot weather, the Green Insect, the Wood Fly, the Blue-bottle, and flies of that type do excellent service if made the right size and form, whether dressed as hackles or winged flies matters not, and there is little difference in their floating qualities ; but all winged flies, unless the wings are fairly soft, have a great tendency to twist a fine gut cast in such a way as to speedily work its ruin. WHY DO THE FISH RISE? 149 Many years ago I remember dressing some biggish " Wood Flies," which had small sparrow quill feather tips as wings, and the least drag in the water caused them to spin and move in a most erratic manner, but for all that many a brace of lusty trout were bagged by them in a big deep mill pool on the river Aire. Which reminds me of a beautiful trout of about a pound weight, which had its home under an old tree root just below some scaffolding we were using across the river, and for six months we fed that fish daily, he would rise to everything which had no line to it. Beetles of all sorts, centipedes, worms, millepedes, grass-hoppers, grass-bugs, flies, minnows, cockroaches, wasp-grubs, all were tried, but put a line on ever so fine and he became wildly excited and darted to and fro and around the bait, but would have none of it — finally he went up the river in October and passed from our ken. I have often wondered if he ever returned to the old root or finally fell a victim to a boy with hazel switch and crooked pin. There are other neglected friends for whom I would say a word. I have often been surprised at the neglect with which the PerlidcB are treated ; on many streams they are more important than the Ephemerida and are easy of imitation, the large Stone Fly only excepted. The large Stone Fly is a most deadly bait when the natural fly is used up stream, and with care a passable imitation may be made with a cork base for body, wound over with thin indiarubber from the core of a golf ball, and rusty blue Andalusian hackles 150 WHY DO THE FISH RISE? for wings, and a few thickish dark legs. Then there is the Yellow Sally, so much and so unjustly abused as a " bitter fly and one rejected by the fish." This is an entire fallacy ; a properly dressed imitation is one of our most prized and useful flies in its season. Again avoid the bulky bushy patterns, and remember the Sally is a pale delicate insect, and to be successful the imitation must be fine in form and be dressed with delicate glassy hackles both for wings and legs, and the trouble of obtaining the materials and making up is amply repaid : at least, that is the result of over 25 years' experience of its use. There is another class of insects, some two hundred and fifty strong, in these islands — the Trichoptera, or Caddis Flies .; their imitations will often turn a disastrous day into one of glorious success. There are certain small ones with bronzy wings and reddish bodies, which run about on the surface of the water very quickly, and at times hatch by thousands. Dressed fine, but with long trailing legs, not too numerous, these will do execution on hard-fished waters when all the orthodox patterns fail — but they must be dressed small and fine. My experience of heavy bushy flies is that on preserved waters they do well enough, but given conditions not too favourable, and hard fished waters, and the best way to treat them is to take out a pair of scissors and cut off two-thirds of the dressing, and at times they do better with five-sixths removed. This may seem to be rank heresy, but it is the result of actual experience, and success has been achieved by adopting this method when the fish absolutely refused WHY DO THE FISH RISE? 151 the fly as originally dressed and offered, although it was supposed to be an imitation of the fly actually on the water at the time, and to which they were rising. Before closing these random notes I recall an incident that happened two years ago. The trout were rising in a very desultory manner, and for a long time our efforts were vain. But at last a plump fish of a pound and three quarters was landed, and an autopsy performed. The only contents of the stomach were an ordinary half-burnt wooden match and a chip of wood about an inch long : so this suggests, when they will not rise to a Dun, try a lucifer before giving up in despair, the blackened head and whitish stalk may suggest a Caddis Worm to the fish. FROM THE FISHES' POINT OF VIEW. 353 Chapter XXI. FROM THE FISHES' POINT OF VIEW. Our member, " Glanrhos," is, I think, right ; many fly-dressers, even when they go to nature for their models, still fail to appreciate the point from which the fishes view the natural fly, and also the conditions under which they see it, this being especially the case with the makers of dry flies. If asked what is the colour of a common house fly as seen by the fish, it is probable that the great majority of fly-dressers would unhesitatingly reply " dark grey," and although this may approximate to the truth, from our point of view, if we consider the conditions and circumstances under which the house fly appears to the fish, the reply is probably " quite wrong." Let us suppose that the conditions are bright sun- shine and wind, and the fly floating on the surface. Viewed from below in sunshine the house fly is orange, black, and ochreous in colour, due to the light coming through it, and the wings are iridescent at almost any angle. When the fly alights on the water the hairs which clothe its body carry innumerable small air bubbles which float the fly lightly, but the consequent surface tension, reflection, and refraction of the water viewed from below, give an appearance of silver and 1 55 156 FROM THE FISHES' POINT OF VIEW. gold around the fly, mingling with which is a strong suggestion of iridescent colouring, the colour scheme having a focus of interest in the silver and red of the eyes and head. The house fly is quoted simply as an example which can be readily obtained and the experiment verified with the minimum trouble. So much for a dull coloured fly floating — but drown that fly, i.e. thoroughly wet it so as to remove the small air bubbles from its surface, and look at it sideways instead of from below, and it at once assumes a sober colour, more like our usual conception of it. If this happens with a sober, solid fly like the house fly, how much more brilliant and beautiful do we find the Ephemeridce, the gnats, and other flies, whose bodies are almost transparent, and whose wings are transparent glittering sheets of iridescent colours blended with gold and silver ; and yet the fly dresser attempts to imitate these with pale starling, blackbird, or other dull opaque feathers simply because his materials impose certain limitations, and again he fails to appreciate the fishes' point of view. Viewed from above the usual feather imitation is approximately correct, but viewed from below on the surface of the water, particularly in strongish light, a good glassy hackle will give a far better suggestion of a spinner or gnat than any winged imitation ever can do. To take an analogy, which is the more suggestive of nature and the more pleasing — the laborious intricately detailed painting of a landscape, where every detail of herbage and foliage in the foreground FROM THE FISHES' POINT OF VIEW. 157 and an elaborate middle distance are shown, or the broad, liberal rendering of the artist giving his inter- pretation and impression in simple masses of form and colour, repressing all except essentials ? So with the fly-dresser the simple glassy hackle glittering in the sunshine and lightly impinging on the surface of the water when viewed from below gives a far more realistic impression than a heavy winged fly struggling to float with the aid of oil, where the hackled variety rides easily and buoyantly. The effect of oiling a dry fly is to alter its refractive index, darken and sodden it to a remarkable extent so that it does not present a thousand little points to catch the light as it did before the application of oil, and this is another excellent reason why a hackle fly frequently scores when a winged imitation, oiled, fails. There are, of course, great limitations imposed by the materials, and also the conditions of using them. To begin with, the bodies of all flies are tubular and allow a certain amount of light to pass through them, whereas the base of all artificial flies is of necessity a steel bar, excepting in the case of flies with detached or semi-detached bodies. Viewed from above, the quill body is as near nature as possible, but from below it is almost black, unless there is light reflected from below, and although a rough, thick woolly body is an abomination, the fact cannot be overlooked that a coloured light comes through the edges of the wool which suggests a transparence entirely absent in the close hard quill body. Celluloid is transparent but 158 FROM THE FISHES' POINT OF VIEW. shows the centre steel bar of the hook, and the only satisfactory way we know is to make the body with a basis of tinsel, and over this wind a band of gut, celluloid, indiarubber, mohair, or other material which will allow the sheen of the tinsel to show through in part, at any rate, suggesting transparence by means of reflection. Flies with tinsel bodies are at times " most taking," as also those which have high colour in them. A finely dressed fly with turns of three hackles, red, yellow, and green in colour, with yellow and red spines for tails, and a gilt body, will on a brilliant hot day kill in a surprising manner. On August 7th I tried various flies of the Blue and Green-bottle variety, with fair success ; they floated perfectly, and on hot days are " great medicine," but as the fish began to come short, and as the day became brighter and hotter, I put up an " iridescent " fly, knowing its worth from experience, and the result abundantly justified the change. So long as the bright conditions held the " iridescent " fry worked " like a charm," but when it came on dull it ceased to be attractive, and a fly of sombre colour became more seductive. It has been laid down in salmon fishing, " bright day, bright fly ; dull day, dull fly," a rule which I have found work out also with trout. Should the weather turn thundery and dull a bright fly ceases to attract, and a black, brown, or a ochreous one will do much better. In a diary extending over some years I find several entries to the effect "as the dav became dull FROM THE FISHES POINT OF VIEW. 159 and gloomy the bright fly ceased to attract ; a change to a dull coloured one soon mended matters." It will be interesting to hear if other members have observed this fact. It has been averred that brackish or salt water has more tendency to produce iridescent colours and also to make objects in it glitter, and that is one reason why salmon, which are used to feed on small glittering fish, and prawns which are semi-transparent, and have long antennae and many legs, which glitter and shine as they swim along, should be attracted by a gaudy imitation of we know not what. We watch the various crustacese and so on in a salt-water aquarium in sunshine and shadow with interest, and the way they change colour according to the light and shade is very suggestive and interesting. The various reasons assigned by different philoso- phers or observers for fish taking a fly are curiosity, pugnacity, acquisitiveness, jealousy, and hunger. I would suggest that at any time it is possible to get a lot of rises from the first cause, by putting on a big fly or beetle in bright conditions, or even a salmon fly if it floats well. The trout will rise at it like fun, but not one in ten will be hooked : they are simply flirting with the unknown. Again, an abnormal fly put over the haunt of an old stager causes annoyance and a splashy, pugnacious rise is the result. If two good fish have their haunts near together they become exceedingly jealous, and one is certain to fall a victim of acquisitiveness or jealousy in the fear lest his neighbour gets there first. The second fish, 160 FROM THE FISHES' POINT OF VIEW. after his neighbour's removal, becomes much more cautious, and will take ten times as much catching. My' brother has shown me big fish in their lairs on several occasions, remarking that he had caught their mates weeks or months before, but the one left had developed into an artful old dodger, whereas before the two used to rush out at the fly simultaneously. His frequent remark is : " show me two fish and I will catch one of them, but the survivor will take even a live Blue-bottle by the wing and shake it to see if there is a line attached." Lastly, the reason for taking a fly is hunger, and really I believe this is by far the most frequent cause, as is shown by the systematic way in which the rises of trout occur. It is not reasonable to suppose that curiosity, or in fact anything but hunger, should strike trout at regular periods just synchronising with the rise of natural insects morning and evening. Although the other passions may be called into play, the main cause of the anglers' success must ever be hunger, and to achieve success the angler must always aim at such an imitation as is an exact counterpart of one fly, or else an artificial which is so typical in form and colour that it may be readily mistaken for at least " an insect ; " in other words, it is an artist's interpretation of the general or composite appearance of several insects, and if this is studied from the fishes' point of view, success will be steady and not the spasmodic success which follows more haphazard methods. INDEX. PAGE. PAGE. Agelina labyrinthica . . . 71 Cockchafer ... 16 Alder Flies 14, 64, 66, 143 Cockroaches . . . ... 8, 9 Allantus arcuatus ... 15, 64 Cocoa fibre 104 Anopluva . . . 9 Coleoptera 8, 9 10, 16, 57 Ants • • • 15, 73 Colour of Fly . . . 133, 158 A phaniptera . . . ... 8 Condor quill ... ... 103 A phides . . . ... 9, 67 Copper Spinner ... 36 Aphodius fastens 16, 57, 60 Corixa ... ... 18, 58, 143 Aphrophora alni . . . 18 Corxics striata . . . 58 Aptera > . • ... 8, 9 »» *** *•" 18 A pterygota . . . 9 Corncrake and Orange 51 A raneidce ... ... 18, 71 Ccrrodentia 9 Arctia caja ... 72 Cowdung Beetle 16, 57, 60, 143 Attractors ... 131 Fly ... ... 29, 141 Autumn Green • • • 144 Crane-flies 17, 23, 26, 141 ,, Spinner ... 40 Creepers Crickets... ... ... 12, 45 9 Balancers ... 16 Ctenichneumon extensorius ... 64 Bees * . . 15 Cuckoo Spit 18 Beetles 16, 57, 59, 60, 72, 73,114, 122 Culicidce ... 17 Bibio marci ... 15. 30 Cynomya mortuorum ... 31 Bibionidce ... 17 Black Ant ... 72, 144 Dark Drake ... ...35, 142 ,, Cuss ... 30. 141 ,, Needle ... 46, 143 Blow Flies ... 17, 142 Olive Dun 40, 142 Blue Dun ... 18, 58 Deceivers 131 ,, Lacewing ... 14, 63 Dermaptera 9 Boatman ... 18 Diptera 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 29, 148 Bodies ... ... 113 Dipteron 29, 31, 65 Book-lice ... 9 Dolichopides ... 17, 31 Brassy Hackle ... 77 Downlooker 30 Bright Day ... ... 133, 158 Dragon-flies -fly lava? Drakes ... 9 Bright Flies ... ... 31, 142 54 Bronze Bottle... ... 31 36, 114 Brown Gnat ... ... 24 Duns 9, 39, 142 Spinner ... 39 Dyes 108 Browns ... 47 Bugs Bulging Bumble ... 8, 9 26, 132 73 Early Brown ... Olive ... ... 45, 143 142 Bustards 13, 51, 143 Earth Beetle ... ... 57, 143 Butterflies 8 Earwigs ... ... 8, 9 Eden ... ... 53 Cad Bait 13 Elaphrus cupreus ... ... 16, 57 Caddis Flies ... io 13, 51, 52 Elytra ... ... ... 16, 17 Worms 54 Empida ... ... 17, 30 Caterpillar, Green ... 144 Endopterygota ... ... 9 ,, Paint Brush 144 Entomology ... 9 Red and Black ... Ephemeridce Cephalothorax ... 19 9, 10, 11, IS !, 35, 39. 41, 149 Chironomida ... ... 17, 23 Ephemeroptera ... ... 9, 10 Chrysis ignita ... • * • ... 15, 64 Exopterygota . . . ... 9 ,, rubii ... • . • 15 Chrysomela • • . 60 Fancy Flies . . . ... 15 Chrysopidce ... 10, 11, 14 February Red... ... 45, 142 Cilia ... 26 Fern Web 57 Cinnabar Moth • * . 72 Field Material Case 127 Coch-y-bonddu ...30, 59, 60, 77 Fire Tail ... 15, 64 Cocinnella ... 60 Fleas ... ... 8 161 INDEX — Continued. Flies Bodies . hatch of. night number Wings . used Flight of Insects Fly atfractors colour of... deceivers down-winged hackle size of . . . split-winged types of... up-winged Formica rufa ... Freaks ... Frog Hopper ... Furnace Hackle Gall-flies Gerris lacustris Ghost Swift Moth ... Gnat larvae Gnats 17, 24, 25, Golden-eyed Gauze Wing PAGE. 113 134 134 135 85-95, 113 14 131 133, 158 131 114, 121 114 133 114, 117 114, Grass Bug Grasshopper Grass Moth Gravel Spider Green Aphis ... Beetle Bottle „ Bug Drake ... Bun ,, Insect ... ,, Lacewing ,, Nematus Greenflies Grouse and Green Hackle Fly Hackles Hairy Worms Halterers Hard-fished Water ... Hatch of Flies Hawthorn Fly Hemerobins alba ,, hirtus ,, nervosns ... Hemiptera 8, 9, 10, 17, Hepialis humuli Hexapoda Hilaria Hooks ... Hoverers ...17, 29, Hydrometra stagnorum 131 116 72 132 . 18, 66 77 15 . 18, 58 13 26 26, 141 63 65, 144 .. 8, 9 52 24, 141 65, 144 73, 144 30, 141 144 35, 142 40, 142 31, 141 63, 143 65 8 51, 143 114 77-81, 101 72 16 135 134 15, 30, 141 ... 14, 63 ... 14, 63 ... 14, (53 18, 58, 65, 67 13 9 30 105-107 31, 141, 142 ... 18, 58 18, 72 30, 14, PAGE Hylotoma ... 144 ,, pagana ... ... 64 Hymenoptera 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 63 Ichneumon Imagines Insect Classification ,, ravages Insects... Iridescent effect Fly Jealousy Jenny Spinner... Lacewings Larva ... Lasius niger ... Leptdoptera Leptidcs Leptis lineola ... ,, scolopacea Leptocerida longicornis Limnobince Limnophilus lunatus .. List of Flies ... Lycosa fluviatilis March Brown ... Material Box ... May Bug Mayfly Mecaptera Medium Olive Dun . Metallic-flies ... Metamorphosis Mohair... Mosquitoes Nematus lucidus niger Neuration Neuroplera Night fishing ... Notonecla glauca 15, 16, 64, 65, 144 9 ... 8-19 109 19 39, 155, 158 139, 158 Oak Flics Old Birds Olive Dun Gnat Orange Fly ,, -tailed Spinner Orders of Insects Orthoptera Oxycera trilineata 159 40 11, 14, 63, 143 8 72 8, 9, 73 17 30 30 51 17 52 141 71 ... 39, 58, 142 109 57 10, 35, 45 9 40, 142 ... 17, 31, 142 8 103 17 15, 64 ... 15, 63 10 ... 8 9, 10, 13 53, 134 17, 18, 58 17, 30, 141, 142 102 ... 39, 40, 142 24 64 40 8, 9, 10 ... 8, 9 65 Pachygaster polita Pachymerus calcilrator 30 64 162 INDEX — Continued. PAGE PAGE Pale Evening Dun ... 40, 142 Storage... 108 „ Olive Dun 40 Sub-imagines ... 9 Palmer 114, 115 Sulphur Dun ... 36, 142 Perla maxima... 12 Sweep ... 143 „ viridissima 12 SyriphidcB 17, 29 PerlidcB 10, 11, 12, 13, 45, 47, 149 Phyllopertha horticola 59 Tailing ... 132 Phryganea grandis ... 13, 51 Telephorus lividus 16, 57 Phryganidce 10, 11 ,, rusticus 16, 57 Plecoptera ... 9, 10 Theriva nobilata 17, 31 Point of view 155 Thin and thick bodies 133, 134 Poultry hackles 77, 103 Tinsel ... 108, 158 Pupa ... 8 Thorax... 25, 113 Thysanoptera ... ... 8, 9 Quill 100, 103 TipulidcB 17, 23, 148 ,, bodies 157 Tortoiseshell Caterpillar 72 Transportation of Flies 54 Raffia grass 100, 104 Trichoptera 9, 10, 11, 12 , 51, 53, 150 Red Ant 72, 144 Turkey Brown ...35, 142 „ Spinner ... 39 Two-winged flies 29 Roller 99 Tying Silks 104 Ruby-tailed Wasp 15, 144 Upright-winged Fly ... 116 Up-stream Fishing ... 135 Sailor Beetle ... 16, 57, 143 Sand Wasp 15, 144 Sarcophaga carnaria ... 31 Vapourer Moth CaterpiD ar ... 72 Sarcophagidce ... 17 Velia currens ... 58 Saw Flies 15 Scale Wings ... 102 Wasps ... 8, 10, 15 Scalps ... 103 Wasp-waisted Flies ... 15 Sedge bodies ... 52 Water Beetles 16 ,, Flies 51, 142 ,, Boatmen 17, 58, 143 Serica brunnea 16, 57 „ Cricket 18, 58, 143 Sialidce... 11, 14 Measurer 18, 58, 143 Sialis lutaria ... 14, 64 Wax ... 105 Silk 99, 104 Waxing Silk ... ... 105 Silver and Black 141 Welsh Blue -bottle ... 31 Silverhorn 52, 143 Whirling Blue Dun ... 40, 142 Silver Tail 17, 30, 141 Willow Fly 46, 143 Siphonaptera ... 9 Wing Feathers 85-95, 102, 104 Size of Fly 133, 140 Winter Gnats 17 Small Birds ... 102 Wolf Spider 71, 73 Snipe Flies 17, 30, 141 Wood Flies ... 17, I Jl, 142, 149 Sockdolager 66 Wool 101 Soldier Beetle... 15, 16, 57, 60, 143 Wren Tail 18, 144 Speckles 142 Spent Gnat 114, 118 Yellow Drake... 35 Spiders 18, 19, 71, 114, 122, 144 ,, Lacewing 14, 63 Spinners ... 9, 39, 40, 142 Nematus 143 Spit Insects ... 66 Sally ... 12, 45, 47, 143 Split winged Fly 117 ,, Spinner 39 Stick Bait 13 Stone Flies ... 10, 12, 45, 142 Xyloto ... 144 163 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY BERKELEY Return to desk from which borrowed. This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. M«q 12 Wb APR 15 1948 rftffl 2*M T4Dec?55TW B LD 21-100m-9,'47(A5702sl6)476 YD 0?6I5 / M524739 fa/1/