EVOLUTION OF THE TROUT FLY. 167 



either some specially coloured dark mallard 

 feather, only to be found on a black headed 

 drake : or black head refers not to the bird but 

 the feather, and means one with a black or dark 

 base. Every fly dresser knows that dark 

 mallard varies greatly in colour, especially at 

 the base, and many feathers with dark tips 

 have a light root. You are therefore directed 

 to choose a dark rooted one. This interpreta- 

 tion is conjectural, but it is not unlikely and 

 makes sense. 



Now, the living Alder has a black head, 

 nearly black thorax, dull brown abdomen, and 

 light brown wings with very strong brown 

 veining. It is a well-known fly, recognisable 

 at once from the downward set of the wings 

 when at rest, which caused Kingsley to 

 apostrophise it as 'hunchback.' It is clear at 

 once that Markham's dressing is first class : 

 wool of a black sheep has a reddish tinge when 

 held up to the light, as we saw in the March 

 Brown, and I believe would make a better body 

 than the coppery peacock herl now almost 

 universal. But be that as it may, there can 

 be no reasonable doubt about the identification, 

 for Markham certainly is describing the Alder. 

 So I think, but with less certainty, is the 

 Treatise. Black head, black wool body ribbed 

 with black silk, and very dark mallard wings, 

 make a good imitation, not very different from 

 the one you and I fish to-day. 



The dressing commonly used now is a body 



