140 THE DRY FLY AND FAST WATER 



The English creation known as the "Alex- 

 andra," representing absolutely nothing in in- 

 sect life (at least to eye of man), strongly sup- 

 ports Professor Rennie's theory. Its effect upon 

 trout has been so deadly that it has been sug- 

 gested by many English anglers that its use 

 should be barred upon some streams. In the 

 same class with the Alexandra might be placed 

 our own American nondescript, the "Parma- 

 cheene Belle," the invention of Mr. Henry P. 

 Wells, whose theory was, "An imitation of some 

 favourite food is in itself sufficient under all cir- 

 cumstances, provided it is so conspicuous as 

 readily to be seen . . . and the fly in question 

 was made, imitating the colour of the belly fin 

 of the trout itself." This theory may be sound 

 enough, but in this particular application of it 

 one is asked to believe that the trout is inor- 

 dinately fond of the belly fin of its relatives, 

 which seems to me to be straining credulity 

 overfar. To some old cannibalistic fish these 

 fins may be attractive. I do not deny it, for I 

 do not know; but in my own experience I have 

 not known them to be plucked or bitten from 

 the victim; nor are they found floating about 

 loosely. The Parmacheene Belle is undoubtedly 

 an imitation of the belly fin of a trout, but it is 



