82 BY HOOK ANB BY CBOOK. 



their floating qualities, and more or less answer their 

 purpose ; but the wings are frequently represented by 

 the feathers of the Mallard and Egyptian Goose, dyed 

 to such a depth of yellow or green that not even the 

 most jaundiced pseudo-imago or imago could detect 

 in them the slightest resemblance to his own gauzy 

 structures. 



The Egyptian Goose feather is a bad imitation, as, in 

 the first place, the tint is wrong, and, secondly, it is too 

 heavy and stiff in the fibre. 



The portion of feather used should be left intact, 

 and not, as is often the case, have its edges cut or 

 trimmed with scissors, as by such treatment it is de- 

 prived of its natural fringe, which if allowed to remain 

 assists the fly in sitting lightly on the water. 



The feathers of the ducks are best adapted for use 

 in imitation of the May-fly's wing, and as long as 

 those of the Summer Duck, also called Canadian Wood- 

 Duck, are procurable, there is no necessity to resort to 

 dyes, as the unbarred feathers of this bird are as nearly 

 as possible of the correct shade, and are also of the 

 right size and strength of fibre. 



A pattern of this fly is described elsewhere, and from 

 experience we can confidently recommend it. The 

 pattern is a very good floater, and as we have many a 

 time seen a fish select it while the real article was just 

 as handy, that is quite good enough for us. 



To dress a salmon-fly is easy work when once the 

 correct method has been acquired, and, irrespective of 



