selection of particular species. Well, at the time in question, the line of fish in the stickle under the opposite bank aforesaid, are gastronomically moved towards a certain species of the class of flies referred to, every one of which is characterised by the habit of floating upon the surface of the water, in reverse of the phryganidæ, which generally hover above it, and flit about the banks. Impelled by some peculiarity of the atmosphere, or by some other cause which we cannot, and need not if we could, explain, the fish have come close to the surface to watch for their prey, which can thus be easily seized as the victims float along, without further trouble on the part of the fish than gently lifting their mouths above the water. Now, the angler's fly is wet and heavy, and, thrown from the other side, has a certain weight of line in addition. So, as it is not in the nature of things that this soaked artificial fly can swim upon the surface as the natural ones do, it follows the alternative and sinks below the rising fish, the notice of which it entirely escapes, because they happen just then to be looking upwards for the materials of their meal. Let a dry fly be substituted for the wet one, the line switched a few times through the air to throw off its superabundant moisture, a

judicious cast made just above the rising fish, and the fly allowed to float towards and over them, and the chances are ten to one that it will be seized as readily as a living insect. This dry fly, we must remark, should be an imitation of the natural fly on which the fish are feeding, because, if widely different, the fish, instead of being allured, would most likely be surprised and startled at the novelty presented, and would suspend feeding until the appearance of their favourite and familiar prey.

We mention this as an illustration of the importance of imitating action, and must not be understood to recommend the constantly substituting of a dry fly for a wet one, over every rising fish. Better, as a general rule, when the angler, after a few casts, finds the fish over which he throws unwilling to be tempted, pass on in search of a more willing victim. This caution is the more necessary, because anglers too often expect to take every rising fish over which they throw; whereas it is really only under particular circumstances, and in favourable situations, that the motions of the natural insect can be so imitated as to prove successful, unless the fish are ravenous and seize everything presented to them, a state of things not often experienced.

There is much common sense in the following remarks by a writer in the " Sporting Review:""A fish, as may be witnessed from a bank, when on the feed, lies with his nose peering over a shore or ledge of rock, and pointed up the stream, ready to take the flies as they float downwards, provided there be nothing obtrusive in their appearance to awaken his suspicions and restrain his appetite until the fly is past. The object is not so much to awaken his appetite by a fly more attractive than the natural one, which you can hardly expect to achieve, as to avoid startling the fish when he has seen your fly, and would take it, among others, if there were nothing obtrusive in its appearance."

For this reason we recommend imitations of the duns as standard flies. There is not a river in the kingdom on which some species of this beautiful tribe of ephemeral flies is not to be found daily throughout the fishing season, and generally more numerously than any other fly. The fish are familiar with and fond of them, and their varieties are extremely numerous. We have for many years fished with hardly any other flies than the red palmer and some shades of the duns, lighter or darker, larger or smaller, according to the particular states of the water and

atmosphere, and the result is, our full concurrence in the remark of Mr. Ronalds, that "the duns form the sheet-anchor of the flyfisher's practice."

Our pupils, after all we have said, must understand us to lay down these principles: — 1. That trout can discriminate species, and have preferences for particular flies under particular circumstances. 2. That imitations of some of the principal species are necessary for successful practice. 3. That imitation consists not of a slavish copying of detail, but an expression of the general character of the fly imitated. 4. That besides specific imitation of the fly, an imitation of its action in the water must be included; and, 5. That a difference in the imitation of that action (all other circumstances being equal) constitutes, to a great extent, the various grades of skill possessed by different anglers.

Before leaving this subject, it may not be amiss to correct a notion very commonly entertained by many even experienced anglers, that artificial flies become darker and collapsed when in the water. The simple experiment of examining an artificial fly in a tumbler of water will show at once that this notion is entirely unfounded.

We shall now proceed to give a list of flies, with the proper materials for dressing them artificially, reserving for the concluding chapter some remarks by which to direct the angler in his selection of particular kinds for particular occasions, and only reminding him here once more of the necessity of never forgetting how much would at all times depend upon the exercise of his own judgment, even if our instructions were, what nothing human can be,-to wit, perfection.

1. The Early Red. - Body to be made thickly of the red part of the squirrel's fur, or of hair from a red sheep-skin door-mat, well broken up together before using. Legs, a red hen's hackle. Wings, from the woodcock's wing-feather, to lie flat and be shorter than the body. Hook, No. 3. Kendal.*

*

Although we give the size of the hooks on which to dress the different flies in our list, it must be understood that those sizes are by no means definite, but are intended rather to guide the angler in forming his own judgment as circumstances may require a deviation. Generally speaking, the sizes given should be adopted, as agreeing nearest with those of the particular insects imitated; but they must be varied to suit the peculiarities of water and atmosphere at the time of fishing,—increased, for instance, when the water is stained, and also when the atmosphere is very gloomy, and the wind high,—and diminished (using very small and fine hooks) when the water is low and the sky