HEADS. 91 



each strand. This quill must be flat on the hook. 

 Place the fibre at the side of, and close up to the 

 stem of, the topping, and wind one turn of silk 

 over. Do the same to the other, after making 

 sure they will be of the same length. It will be 

 easier to the beginner if he makes a dent across 

 the quills where the tying silk is to pass. 



HEADS. 



All the roots of the wing feathers should now 

 be cut off at an angle, so that when bound over 

 with tying silk the head will be tapered and 

 pointed, as shown. To do this, hold the scissors 

 along the hook. When this has been done, 

 varnish the stumps, and wind the tying silk as 

 closely and tightly as possible to the end of the 

 shank ; wind back three or four turns, and finish 

 off in the manner shown in the illustration. The 

 end A of the tying silk is turned towards the 

 bend of the hook, and held against the head, 

 while the side of the loop B is wound over it, 

 three or four times ; A is then pulled tight. Cut 

 off the end closely, varnish the whole head well, 

 and when quite dry, give it another coat. 



The beginner will probably find that the head 

 of his fly is twice the size of 

 that shown. This will be 

 because he has used too many 

 turns of silk probably, and Fig. 68. 



has not pulled them tight enough. With practice 



