180 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 



ness of the day considered, fashion your device 

 according to art ; considering the general cure 

 for proportion, as also the season, by the rule of 

 contraries. For the brighter the day is, the ob- 

 scurer your fly ; but the more promiscuous the 

 season is, by so much the more ought your fly 

 to be bright and shining. I also advise you to 

 prepare the ground and body of your fly with 

 bear's-hair, as at other times from the obscuri- 

 ties of wool ; but then let the head be obscure 

 and dark, since generally most flies their heads 

 are blackish. The wing also you may strip from 

 the pinion of a teal, which above measure al- 

 lures the trout to destruction. But if novelties 

 affect, as frequently they do, you must then con- 

 sult your flies to excel one another, if provided 

 you design to advance your recreation. But 

 presupposing the day be gloomy, as frequently 

 it happens from melancholy clouds 



Theoph. What's then to be done ? 



Arn. You must then consult a brighter fly, 

 which is better understood upon serious prac- 

 tice ; for I extol no man a proficient in the art, 

 that is undisciplined in the academy of experi- 

 ence. 



Theoph. But some men I observe are more 

 ingenious than othersome. , 



Arn. Otherwise I should allot them an acci- 

 dental fate : for convinced by observation, I am 



