An Angler's Entomology New Naturalist Series no 23.<br />First edition.

London: Harper Collins, 1952. First edition 1952. Hardback. xv, 268pp plus 4 pages of publisher's ads at end. Dust jacket in a protective sleeve. J. R. Harris is both an angler and a scientific naturalist. Anglers, of all human groups devoted to a hobby or sport, are perhaps the most strongly obsessed with their occupation and with all that belongs to it. The fact that sporting fish feed primarily on insects and can be caught by devices which simulate these insects, has been the basis for a scientific literature and an equally astonishing display of invention in fly-tying. While anglers have always been interested in the scientific basis of simulation of the insects as lures for fish, there has been a paucity of books on angling that has dealt satisfactorily with the angler's entomology in all its aspects. This book offers fine illustrations - both in colour by T. O. Routledge, and in black & white - and a solid text, by which all stages of all the important angler's flies can be identified, whether the angler fishes in Ireland, Scotland, Wales or England. The author has also rationalised the nomenclature of flies without breaking with tradition, so that when anglers from Ireland and England meet and discuss the different kinds of nymphs, duns and spinners, they can,with the aid of this book be quite certain precisely what it is they are talking about. The will also be of interest to many beyond the anglers and the entomologists. 103 colour and 24 black & white photographs plus 27 maps and tables etc. Jacket design by Clifford and Rosemary Ellis. Book in very good condition. Light soiling and spotting to text block edges. Some minor spotting to endpapers. Internally clean and bright. Dust jacket good. and unclipped. Some discolouration to spine. Generally a little soiled and some spotting to rear panel. Narrow bands of discolouration to folds and to edges of flaps.