The Compleat ^Angler 



FEBRUARY. 



1. Where the red-brown of the last month ends, another almost 

 of the same colour begins, with this saving, that the dubbing of this 

 must be of something a blacker colour, and both of them wrapped 

 on with red silk. The dubbing that should make this fly, and that 

 is the truest colour, is to be got off the black spot off a hog's ear : 

 not that a black spot in any part of the hog will not afford the same 

 colour, but that the hair in that place is, by many degrees, softer, 

 and more fit for the purpose. His wing must be as the other ; and 

 this kills all this month, and is called the lesser red-brown. 



2. This month, also, a plain hackle, or palmer-fly, made with a 

 rough black body, either of black spaniel's fur, or the whirl of an 

 ostrich feather, and the red hackle of a capon over all, will kill, and, 

 if the weather be right, make very good sport. 



3. Also, a lesser hackle, with a black body, also silver twist over 

 that, and a red feather over all, will fill your pannier, if the month be 

 open, and not bound up in ice and snow, with very good fish ; but, 

 in case of a frost and snow, you are to angle only with the smallest 

 gnats, browns, and duns you can make ; and with those are only to 

 expect graylings no bigger than sprats. 



4. In this month, upon a whirling round water, we have a great 

 hackle, the body black, and wrapped with a red feather of a capon 

 untrimmed ; that is, the whole length of the hackle staring out (for 

 we sometimes barb the hackle-feather short all over ; sometimes barb 

 it only a little, and sometimes barb it close underneath), leaving the 

 whole length of the feather on the top or back of the fly, which 

 makes it swim better, and, as occasion serves, kills very great fish. 



5. We make use, also, in this month, of another great hackle, the 

 body black, and ribbed over with gold twist, and a red feather over 

 all ; which also does great execution. 



6. Also a great dun, made with dun bear's hair, and the wings of 

 the grey feather of a mallard near unto his tail ; which is absolutely 

 the best 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 



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