FLY-DRESSING: THE TAIL. 73 



cut. Three firm whips of your silk will be 

 sufficient to fasten them. Then cut away any of 

 the butt-end fibres that may remain uncovered 

 by the silk. Wind your silk down towards the 

 bend of your hook, stopping at the spot at which 

 you first began the arming of your gut, as de- 

 scribed in Fig. 1. You are now ready for the 

 placing on of the tail. 



Here you see it placed on and whipped over 

 with your silk. The tail 

 is generally made of 

 two fibres of a feather, 

 or of two hairs. In 

 tying on the tail, use 

 three fibres or three 

 hairs, lest one should 

 drop off or be in any way injured whilst you are 

 dressing the other parts of the fly ; and afterwards, 

 if you have succeeded in fastening on three, you 

 may cut away the worst of them, and allow only 

 two to remain the generality of angling flies 

 having but two tails, and a few only being pachas 

 of three. These illustrious insects have their 

 appendages particularised in our list of killing- 

 flies. You have now, attentive learner, per- 

 formed three things, armed your gut, fastened 

 on your fibres for wings, and fixed your tail. 

 You next come to making the body, and attaching 

 it round your hook. 



