IMITATION OF THE NATURAL INSECT 147 



gentleman himself is, to some extent, colour- 

 blind. 



Objects floating upon the surface of a shallow 

 stream reflect the colour of the bottom in vary- 

 ing degree, according to their density. A number 

 of white objects floating above a moss or grass 

 covered bottom reflect different tones of green, 

 that one which is most opaque showing the 

 darkest shade, and each one reflecting a lighter 

 tone in proportion to the amount of light that 

 filters through it. It is true, of course, that a 

 yellow insect floating over this same bottom 

 would reflect a shade of green all its own, and 

 it is but natural to assume that if the same shade 

 or tint of yellow is used in the artificial, its em- 

 ployment would more nearly approximate the 

 effect of reflection upon the natural insect; but 

 if the exact shade or tint is important, the 

 effect is not produced unless the same amount 

 of light passes through both natural and arti- 

 ficial. The use of the hook itself precludes the 

 possibility of any delicate imitation of nature, 

 and the infinite pains anglers have taken to 

 make representations of the segmentations of 

 many of the Ephemeridce by using quill windings 

 for the body would seem to be for naught, 

 except in so far as they affect the artistic eye 



