chap, v.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 109 



May-fly are the ground of all fly- angling, which 

 are to be thus made. 



First, you must arm your hook with the line in 

 the inside of it ; then take your scissars, and cut so 

 much of a brown mallard's feather, as in your own 

 reason will make the wings of it, you having withal 

 regard to the bigness or littleness of your hook : 

 then lay the outmost part of your feather next to 

 your hook, then the point of your feather next the 

 shank of your hook ; and, having so done, whip it 

 three or four times about the hook with the same 

 silk with which your hook was armed ; and, having 

 made the silk fast, take the hackle of a cock or ca- 

 pon's neck, or a plover's top, which is usually bet- 

 ter : take off the one side of the feather, and then 

 take the hackle, silk, or crewel, gold or silver thread, 

 make these fast at the bent of the hook, that is to 

 say, below your arming ; then you must take the 

 hackle, the silver or gold thread, and work it up to 

 the wings, shifting or still removing your finger, as 

 you turn the silk about the hook ; and still looking 

 at every stop or turn, that your gold, or what ma- 

 terials soever you make your fly of, do lie right and 

 neatly, and if you find they do so, then, when you 

 have made the head, make all fast : and then work 

 your hackle up to the head, and make that fast : 

 and then, with a needle or pin, divide the wing into 

 two ; and then, with the arming silk whip it about 

 cross-ways betwixt the wings ; and then, with your 

 thumb you must turn the point of the feather 



