92 



MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



It is almost unnecessary to observe that the colour of 

 a hackle can only be judged by holding it between the 

 eye and the light — the position also in which it is per- 

 ceived by the fish. The cinnamon or "fiery brown" 

 hackle when thus examined becomes shot with smoky 

 yellowish lights, and the golden olive with transparent 

 golden yellows. The green hackle also, if properly 

 dyed, should, when thus examined, assume a lighter and 

 more liquid tint of green. Natural coloured hackles do 

 not present these beautiful effects, and therefore for all 

 flies hackles artificially stained are to be preferred. For 

 small flies "neck" hackles are preferable to "saddle" 

 hackles, as they are softer in the fibre, and thus show 

 more movement in the water. 



Floss silk will not answer at all for dressing these 



