Diversity of Opinion. 37 



appetite of some young one, that would induce 

 either to dine on flies without the " unmistakable 

 characteristic." 



Thus the whole theory carries with it its own 

 refutation, and, like the fly which it advocates, 

 requires "an unnatural quantity of legs" to sup- 

 port and render it acceptable. These, however, are 

 still undeveloped ; and therefore, while it may be 

 only a graceful panegyric on our theory for Mr 

 Pennell to say that it cost him " a pang of regret 

 to write what may eventually prove its epitaph," 

 we fear that he has thereby deprived us of the 

 opportunity of reciprocating his good offices, for he 

 has all the while been unwittingly, though we can- 

 not say prematurely, performing that last loving 

 labour for his own. 



The position that, since trout take the artificial 

 for the natural fly, they will be most readily de- 

 ceived by an imitation as perfect as may be in all 

 points of form, colour, size, and motion, has been 

 assailed not only by those who say, with Mr 

 Pennell, you cannot present such an imitation, but 

 also by those who say, you need not. I have tried 

 to show the possibility of doing so ; and now a few 

 words as to its advisability. 



The idea that trout can detect the nicest distinc- 

 tions of form and colour in flies, is held by some 

 authors to be incompatible with the so-called defec- 



