PARTING OBSERVATIONS AND HINTS. 127 



Indiarubber bought in blocks and unvulcanised 

 is of a red colour, and when cut in very fine 

 narrow strips makes admirable bodies for flies. 

 The best way to cut it fine is to use a razor which 

 has been moistened with cold water. It is, how- 

 ever, made in layers, which can be separated 

 without difficulty, and the cutting need only be 

 in one direction. 



The strips of rubber are specially good for 

 dressing Red Spinners ; in fact, nothing else will 

 imitate the natural body so well. 



For winging Red Spinners, Jenny Spinners, 

 and other clear-winged flies, the best material 

 that I know is a very thin tough skin, which is 

 obtained from the outside of the quill of an 

 ordinary rook's wing feather by the following 

 method : Clip off the quill stump, and steep it in 

 water for a few minutes. Then slit it up with a 

 pair of scissors. It will now be found that the 

 outside of the quill will easily peel off without 

 tearing. Cut two pieces of this material into the 

 shape of wings and tie in. The result is a beau- 

 tiful, almost transparent, wing, which is really 

 most natural and is very durable. It will take 

 a dye for such patterns as the Iron Blue Dun. 



A common error of the beginner is to try to tie 

 in too broad a wing. It is best to begin with 

 narrow wings, and to work gradually up to 

 greater breadths as experience and knack is 

 acquired. Of all feathers, thrush, perhaps, works 

 up most sweetly for wings ; next, perhaps, black- 

 bird, woodcock, starling, and jay. 



For dressing large wet flies with a dark wing, 

 I always prefer brown mallard to grouse, part- 

 ridge or woodcock ; but it should be borne in mind 

 that the fibres of the mallard feathers are harder 

 and coarser than those of most other winging 

 feathers, and where four-ply is used they require 

 to be carefully and more securely fastened in. 



