GUT LOOPS, ETC., TAGS, AND TAILS. 39 



close up to the fibres, while the feather is drawn 

 to the left, with the left hand. Take great care, 

 though, that the feather does not incline to one 

 side. To tie it on hold it between the forefinger 

 and thumb of the left hand on top of the hook, 



Fig. 19. 



while you wind two turns of the tying silk round, 

 the first turn being close up to the fibres, but not 

 over them. Cut off the projecting end quite 

 close, wind one more turn of the tying silk, 

 then varnish. 



If the fly is to have two toppings, they should 

 be placed side by side and tied on together. The 

 same number of turns of tying silk will be suffi- 

 cient. Another kind of tail is composed of fibres 

 or strips of different feathers, curved upwards like 

 a topping ; but before describing how to tie them 

 on, I must direct the reader's attention to a few 

 important facts about feathers, on the knowledge 

 and application of which neat work greatly 



