254 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART n. 



fly can be thrown upon a river this month, and with which an angler shall 

 have admirable sport. 



7. We have also this month the GREAT BLUE DUN, the dubbing of the 

 bottom of bear's hair next to the roots, rnixt with a little blue camlet ; the 

 wings, of the dark grey feather of a mallard. 



8. We have also this month a DARK BROWN, the dubbing of the brown 

 hair off the flank of a brended cow ; and the wings, of the grey drake's 

 feather. 



And note, that these several hackles, or palmer-flies, are some for one 

 water and one sky, and some for another ; and according to the change of 

 those, we alter their size and colour. And note also, that both in this, and 

 all other months of the year, when you do not certainly know what fly 

 is taken, or cannot see any fish to rise, you are then to put on a small 

 hackle, if the water be clear, or a bigger, if something dark, until you 

 have taken one ; and then thrusting your finger through his gills, to pull 

 out his gorge, which being opened with your knife, you will then discover 

 what fly is taken, and may fit yourself accordingly.* 



For the making of a Hackle, or a Palmer-fly, my father Walton has 

 already given you sufficient direction. 



MARCH. 



For this month you are to use all the same hackles and flies with the 

 other ; but you are to make them less. 



1. We have, besides, for this month a little Dun, called a WHIRLING^ 

 DUN, though it is not the Whirling Dun, indeed, which is one of the best 

 flies we have ; and for this, the dubbing must be of the bottom fur of a 

 squirrel's tail ; and the wing of the grey feather of a drake. 



2. Also a BRIGHT BROWN ; the dubbing either of the brown of a spaniel, 

 or that of a cow's flank, with a grey wing. 



3. Also a WHITISH DUN ; made of the roots of camel's hair ; and the 

 wings, of the grey feather of a mallard. 



4. There is also for this month a fly called the THORN-TREE FLY ; the 

 dubbing an absolute black, mixed with eight or ten hairs of Isabella- 

 coloured t mohair ; the body as little as can be made, and the wings of a 

 bright mallard's feather. An admirable fly, and in great repute amongst 

 us for a killer. 



5. There is, besides this, another BLUE DUN ; the dubbing of which it 

 is made being thus to be got. Take a small toothcomb, and with it comb 



* This is a very questionable guide, as fish will frequently rise at an artificial fly of 

 quite a different colour to those playing on the water, and on which they have been pre- 

 viously feeding. Venables and other writers on the subject of angling give directions to 

 beat the bushes by the side of a stream, for the purpose of seeing what kind of flies are 

 abroad, a piece of information which is of no practical utility. 



t ISABELLA, Spezie di colore che partecipa del bianco e del giallo. Altieri's Diction- 

 ary. A kind of whitish yellow, or, as some say, buff colour a little soiled. 



How it came by this name will appear from the following anecdote, for which I am 

 obliged to a very ingenious and learned lady : The Archduke Albertus, who had 

 married the Infanta Isabella, daughter of Philip the Second, King of Spain, with whom 

 he had the Low Countries in dowry, in the year 1602, having determined to lay siege 

 to Ostend, then in the possession of the heretics, his pious princess, who attended him 

 in that expedition, made a vow, that till it was taken she would never change her 

 clothes. Contrary to expectation, as the story says, it was three years before the place 

 was reduced ; in which time her Highness's linen had acquired the above-mentioned 

 hue. H. 



