CHAPTER VII. 



WINGS. 



E now come to the most difficult part 

 of fly-tying. So far, every process 

 described is mere child's-play com- 

 pared to it, and nothing but con- 

 tinual practice can make the beginner really 

 efficient. The most important points to be 

 attained are as follows : Both wings must be 

 equal in size, upright, straight with the hook, 

 and quite firm ; every strip or fibre must be on 

 its own side of the hook none sticking out in 

 the slightest ; they must be arched or curved, and 

 the head as small as possible. Now, with refer- 

 ence to their being arched or curved, it is essential 

 that feathers suited to the size of the hook be 

 used. To illustrate this, cut a strip from a large 

 and from a small mallard feather. Cut off from 

 the large strip a piece equal in length to the strip 

 from the small feather. You will then see that 

 the natural curve in the fibres of the small feather 

 is most distinct, but that in the piece from the 

 large feather the fibres are almost straight. If 

 the strip from the small feather was tied on 





