208 FLY-MAKING. 



them all together in the left hand twist the lower 

 half, that nearest the stem several times, and break 

 it with the nails of the right thumb and linger, till 

 the fibres are softened at the spot where they are 

 to be tied to the hook. Include with them a piece 

 of herl, and applying them with the right hand to 

 the hook, hold them and it with the left, while you 

 take sufficient turns of silk with the right, hitch the 

 silk and springing the pliers on to the her], wind and 

 fasten the head and finish off. 



There may be as many joints or divisions as fancy 

 shall dictate ; and they can be either of floss silk, 

 mohair, or other material. To conceal the joints 

 herl may be wound like a head or a few turns of 

 hackle taken, or two small feathers from the golden 

 pheasant's neck may be applied, one above and the 

 other below, and after being loosely tied they may 

 be drawn down by the butts till they are separate 

 round the entire joint. The favorite feather for the 

 tail is the golden pheasant top-knot, but in many 

 flies scarlet worsted is preferable, and the fibres of 

 other feathers may be substituted. In making a 

 mixed wing as it is called, separate the fibres as 

 much as possible, and after the wing is fastened, a 

 long golden pheasant top-knot tied over it will 

 often improve the effect. It is common to add to the 

 wing two fibres of blue macaw, one on each side, 

 and to tie them properly the silk should be reversed 

 by passing it under the gut, as directed for tying 

 simple wings. Care and experience are requisite to 

 the selection of a handsome mixed wing, and fibres 



