86 The Fly-Maker sliould Copy Nature. 



fly will not be disputed. Of course as 

 time went on anglers improved in their 

 imitations, and we find in Markham's 

 book, in 1614, the advantages of cork as a 

 material for fly-dressing recommended : 



" Now for the making of these flyes, 

 the cloudie darke flye is made of blacke 

 wool, dipt from between a sheepes ears, 

 and whipt about with black silke, his 

 wings of the under mayle of the Mallard, 

 and his head made blacke and sutable, 

 fixed upon a fine piece of cork, and folded 

 so cunningly about the hooke, that nothing 

 may be perceived but the point and beard 

 onely." 



These directions are not particularly 

 clear, but it looks as if the foundation of 

 the body was to be cork. 



Here is a bit which will interest fly- 

 fishers from The Art of Angling : 



"Now for the shapes and proportions 

 of these flyes, it is impossible to describe 

 them without paynting, therefore you shall 

 take of these severall flyes alive, and laying 

 them before you, trie how near your Art 

 can come unto nature by an equall shapes 

 and mixture of colours ; and when you 

 have made them, you may keep them in 

 close boxes uncrushed, and they will serve 

 you many yeares." 



As I have already said, this work can 



