IMITATION OF THE NATURAL INSECT 137 



be quite as essential a requisite as that of colour, 

 since the former varies according to the position 

 of the insect either in or upon the water; but 

 a small fly is usually employed when the water is 

 fine, because the fish is then better enabled to 

 detect an imitation and because the small fly 

 is more easily imitated. The resemblance of 

 each particular colour, etc., is not required to 

 be so exact as in the case of a large fly." Not- 

 withstanding his evident preference for colour 

 over shape or form, Ronalds was careful to 

 have the proportions of his imitations exact. 

 The many editions of his work that have been 

 issued, and the frequent reference made to him 

 by later writers, is evidence that his opinions are 

 held in high regard by anglers. 



About three years before the "Fly Fishers' 

 Entomology" appeared, Professor James Ren- 

 nie, in his "Alphabet of Scientific Angling," 

 ridiculed the theory of imitation. He says: "It 

 is still more common, however, for anglers to 

 use artificial baits, made in imitation or pre- 

 tended imitation, of those that are natural. I 

 have used the phrase * pretended imitation ' as 

 strictly applicable to by far the greater number 

 of what are called by anglers artificial flies, 

 because these rarely indeed bear the most dis- 



