36 HOW TO TIE FLIES. 



well defined rib of colour, which, is a feature of 

 certain natural flies, and an effect not easily 

 rendered in any other manner. It is also 

 impenetrable, and unaffected in colour by the 

 water. 



Quill, as the term standing alone is generally 

 used, and as I have used it here, means herls from 

 the "eye" part, or immediately below it, of a 

 peacock's tail, with the soft fluff scraped away. 

 To do this : Cut the herl from the tail feather, or, 

 at any rate, trim it squarely across at the root 

 end after tearing it from the shaft. Now hold it 

 between the left forefinger and thumb, leaving 

 about lin. of the root end projecting to the right 

 (Fig. 12). Then scrape it, from A to B, between 



FIG. 12. 



the right thumb nail and ball of the right fore- 

 finger, and at intervals between the right fore- 

 finger nail and ball of the right thumb, so that 

 both sides of the quill may be treated in the 

 same manner. Some may prefer to use a blunt 

 knife instead of their nails. 



If the length stripped be not sufficient, a longer 

 hold may be taken and a longer length scraped. 

 It is best not to take too long a hold at first, as 

 the quill is apt to break. Indeed, in any case, the 

 beginner has generally some difficulties in avoid- 

 ing a breakage. Only practice again that magic 



