TOPPING-WINGS 193 



are cut off from the central quill, and put on 

 in a bunch, an equal number of strands for 

 each side, on the top of the hook -shank 

 " like a bottle brush," as an expert fly-dressing 

 friend of mine puts it (see Beauly Snow Fly 

 in Plate VII.). 



Topping- Wings. --These at first will be very 

 difficult to put on satisfactorily, and even in 

 the hands of an expert present difficulties. 



They require careful preparation beforehand. 



FIG. 101. 



The toppings must be selected in such a way 

 that there is a gradual lengthening from the 

 undermost to the uppermost topping, and the 

 stems, duly nicked at the point of tying in, 

 must lie on the top of the hook-shank exactly 

 in the " middle line," one immediately on top 

 of the other. Fig. 101 shows the kind of 

 shape the toppings when selected and prepared 

 should assume before being tied on. They 

 will be easier to keep in position if they are- 



13 



