FAVOURITE FLIES 135 



As in all other rivers, so there are various flies 

 made use of in the Tweed ; but the variety consists 

 more, I think, in size than in colour. A large fly, 

 as I have said, for the heavy and deep waters, and a 

 smaller one for the upper part of the river. That 

 is the general system. More minute particulars 

 I have already given. Here are six flies, which I 

 have always found the most successful : I do not 

 mean to say that they are the best that can be used, 

 but only that they are such as I have most con- 

 fidence in from experience. They were tried by 

 my fisherman Charles Purdie, and in such a manner 

 as to make them cut their way steadily through 

 the water. They are known by different names ; so 

 that when I say to my fisherman give me this, or 

 give me that, mentioning the patronymic, forth it 

 comes, without the trouble of searching over the 

 book myself. 



Two of these flies are of the masculine gender, 

 three of the feminine, and one of the neuter. The 

 masculine are Michael Scott and Kinmont Willie; 

 the feminine, the Lady of Mertoun or the Flower 

 of Yarrow, Meg with the Muckle Mouth in her 

 usual dress, and Meg in her bravery or, Scottice, 

 brows. The fly of the neuter gender has been 

 called Toppy from time immemorial. 



No. 1. 

 Kinmont Willie. 



Wings . . . Mottled feather from under the wing of a 



male teal. 



Head . . . Yellow wool. 



Body . . . Fur of the hare's ear. 



