CHAPTEE XIII. 

 PABTING OBSEBVATIONS AND HINTS. 



THE earnest seeker after truth was advised by 

 a certain great philosopher Descartes, I think 

 to begin his quest knowing nothing. 



Literally construed, the advice has been found 

 impossible to follow ; while, broadly construed, it 

 has been followed by many, and has led to much. 



There are, doubtless, many fly dressers who 

 would give similar advice. " Know nothing of 

 stereotyped dressings," they would say ; " look 

 upon the plumage of all birds, mark and learn, 

 learn thoroughly ; look then upon the fly, and 

 name the feather which shall counterfeit wings 

 or legs. Thus will you gain the knowledge of 

 nature which you require direct from Nature 

 herself." 



But the practical man, as is his wont, will steer 

 a middle course. He will approve of the methods 

 just sketched out ; but. recognising the impor- 

 tance of his labour becoming at once productive, 

 will gladly welcome any suggestions which 

 others may be able to give him. Seeing, however, 

 that theories, as well as facts, have their part in 

 regulating and fixing the " standard dressings " 

 of flies, he will receive no information on this 

 head as final, till he has tested it by his own 

 experience. 



It had originally been my intention to attempt 

 a more or less complete list of the dressings of 

 the commoner flies ; but on looking closely into 

 the matter, I have decided, with some reluctance, 



