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WINGS. The dark part of a starling's quill feather.

Hook No. 2. long or short.

This fly should be made small and fine. Its metamorphosis is believed to be of a pale lemon tint, which should be used in the evenings at the same season. Imitation similar to No. 32.

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This insect comes from a pupa which inhabits the earth. It is very abundant in hot weather at the water side, from the beginning until the middle of June, flying about amongst poplar trees, and feeding upon the leaves. A very símilar species is found in great numbers upon fern. They are called Bracken-clocks in the North, and well taken by the trout.

IMITATION.

BODY. Black ostrich herl twisted with peacock herl and made with red silk thread.

WINGS AND LEGS. Are made buzz with a dark furnace cock's hackle.

There are other species, some much smaller, of Red Beetles, and Ladybirds (Coccinellidae), which be imitated in a similar manner, and may used when numerous. This is one of the largest employed.

To make it with wings at rest, the darkest part of the starling's wing and a red cock's hackle may be wound upon the above body in the same way as for the Fern Fly, No. 26.

REMARKS. A famous fly for both Trout and Grayling, and may be used till the end of Sep

tember.

No. 31. THE DARK MACKEREL.

This is the name given to the insect represented by the figure on the right hand side of the plate, after it has changed from a dark kind of Green Drake shown on the left side. Both the male and female change to the dark brown, but the former is the smallest and darkest fly. Their habits are similar in every respect to the Green and the Grey Drake (Nos. 28. and 29.). Sir H. Davy says that "the Green Ephemera, or May Fly, lays her eggs sitting on the water." (Salmonia, p. 249.) My observations lead to the

conviction that neither the dark nor light Green Ephemera lay eggs (being imperfect insects), but that their metamorphoses, the Grey Drake and the Dark Mackerel*, lay eggs (whilst rising and falling, &c.). This is an important fly on the Blithe, and continues in season until the end of June and for part of July.

* The egg of this fly and that of all the last metamorphoses of the Ephemeridæ, here spoken of, sinks to the bottom of the water, and is there, in a few days, hatched into a white grig; this larva undergoes several transmutations before it becomes a nympha, which, rising to the surface at its appointed season, bursts the case or skin which incloses it (at the shoulders), displays beautiful wings, quits its old husk, and, after the lapse of a second or two, generally flies to the nearest terra firma, where it remains in solitude and shelter (from the wind and sun-beams) for about two days (see fig. 22. plate 11.). It then undergoes its last metamorphosis, and enters upon its imago or perfect state (see fig. 23.), changing the whole of its envelopes, even those of its fine tails and legs. The tails and the two fore legs of the male increases to about double their former length, those of the female receive an accession of not quite one third. The colour is generally altered, the wings become shining and transparent. The male carries two large stemmata upon his head, and a pair of callipers at the end of his body, which two peculiarities chiefly distinguish his appearance from the female. He is also usually rather smaller than she is. He may be seen merrily dancing, as it were, up and down in the air in vast crowds, frequently near a bush by the water side, whilst the female is to be discovered busily employed rising and falling and hovering over the water, and sometimes touching the surface and making use of her long tails to spring up again. She lays her eggs at this moment.

The genus Potamanthus has three tails, or caudal setæ; Baëtis and Cloëon have only two of these appendages.

No. 32. PALE EVENING DUN.

Order, Neuroptera

Family, Ephemeridæ
Genus, Cloëon

Species, Pumila.

No. 33. JULY DUN. (DARK BLUE DUN, MERLIN.)

Order, Neuroptera

Family, Ephemeridæ
Genus, Baëtis

Species, obscura.

No. 34. GOLD-EYED GAUZE WING.

Order, Neuroptera

Family, Hemerobiida

Genus, Chrysopa

Species, vulgaris.

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