HAL.—The fly you see is called by fishermen the alder fly, and appears generally in large quantities before the May-fly. Imitations of this fly, and of the green and the gray drake of different shades, are the only ones you will need this morning, though I doubt if the last can be much used, as the gray drake is not yet on the water in any quantity. PHYS.—Pray can you give us any account of these curious little animals? HAL.—We ought to draw upon your stores of science for information on these subjects. PHYS.—I really know nothing of Entomology, but I am desirous of acquiring knowledge. HAL.—I have made few observations on flies as a philosophical naturalist. What I know I will state at another time. But see, the green drake is descending upon the water, and some are leaving the alders to sport in the sunshine, and to enjoy the pleasures of their brilliant, though short existence; and their life, naturally ephemeral, is made one of scarcely a moment, by the fishes and birds: that which the swallow or the duck spares is caught by the fish. The fly is new, and in the imitation, I recommend the olive tint, or what the Irish call the green monkey. That is, an artificial fly, with a wing of dyed yellow drake’s feather, a body of yellow monkey’s fur, and a small quantity of olive mohair for legs. For myself, I shall fish for some time with a large red alder fly, and I dare say, with as much success. That is, with a fly with a dark peacock’s harle for body, a red hackle for legs, and wings of the land-rail below, and starling above. POIET.—The water is quite in motion, what noble fish I see on the feed! I never beheld a finer sight, though I have often seen the May-fly on well-stocked waters. HAL.—This river is most strictly preserved; not a fish has been killed here since last August, and this is the moment when the large fish come to the surface, and leave their cad bait search and minnow hunting. But I have hardly time to talk; I have hold of a good fish: they take either alder or May-fly, and having never been fished for this year, they make no distinction, and greedily seize any small object in motion on the water. You see the alder-fly is quite as successful as the May-fly; but there is a fish which has refused it, and because he has been feeding, glutton-like, on the May-fly: that is the fifth he has swallowed in a minute. Now I shall throw the drake a foot above him. It floats down, and he has taken it. A fine fish; I think at least 4lbs. This is the largest fish we have yet seen, but in the deep water still lower down, there are still greater fish. One of 5lbs. I have known taken here, and once a fish a little short only of 6lbs. POIET.—I have just landed a fish which I suppose you will consider as a small one; yet I am tempted to kill him.