PREFACE. Vll 



artificial fly from nature, to etch them with 

 his own hand, and to colour, or superintend 

 the colouring of each particular impres- 

 sion. 



He therefore presumes to hope that he 

 has succeeded in giving a useful collection 

 of the leading flies for every month in the 

 season, and that anyone who may be led 

 by it to a choice of flies from the stock of 

 the manufacturer, or to the construction 

 of his own, will not have cause to repent 

 having consulted the catalogue, chiefly 

 composing the fourth chapter. 



One thing is certain, that whoever mas- 

 ters the art of making the delicate Duns 

 and dashing Palmers of Ronalds, will be 

 at no loss to frame those coarser imitations 

 of nature that are successful in Scotland or 

 elsewhere. Learn to imitate the various 

 patterns of this work, exactly, first ; and 

 when once an adept, you may vary your 

 imitation almost endlessly ; and following 

 the guidance of Nature's self, may 



Snatch a grace beyond the rules of art. 



But to sit down by the brook-side, and 



