EXPOSURE OF THE DRESSING THREAD. 79 



most requisite in the construction of those lures which 

 pedant authors on angling have chosen to dignify with 

 entomological names, and by the addition as well as 

 substitution of other materials, increase and vary to 

 such a degree, that all count of what really is a taking 

 and trustworthy fly is overwhelmed in their teeming 

 and bulky store page. 



The above simplification however of a fly-stock is 

 not introduced by me, as one which I propose to be 

 adopted or even to run greatly counter to general ideas 

 on the subject. It is an enumeration merely of certain 

 constituent elements in the construction of the lure 

 which, whenever used, I have found to be inviting. 

 Indeed, I may safely affirm, that on every Scottish 

 stream and loch, one or other of the flies above specified 

 may, in the absence of others, be used with a fair mea- 

 sure of success ; the sizes, of course, as before observed, 

 being regulated by the condition of the water, the state 

 of the season, weather, and other influences. 



And as to the wings which at option, for they are 

 not absolutely necessary, may be used as appendages to 

 the hackle flies, I would recommend them, in the case of 

 the brown or red hackle, to be taken from the snipe, 

 starling, or brown-speckled feather found on the back 

 of the mallard ; in the case of the black hackle, to be 

 constructed of grouse, woodcock, land-rail, or speckled 

 breast-feather either of the teal or wild-drake. When 

 used on lochs, in dull, windy weather, a streak of tinsel 

 or gold thread wound over the body of the lure will be 

 found, in regard to the larger descriptions of hackle flies, 

 of some little service, especially where good-sized fish 

 abound or when there are chances of obtaining sea-trout. 



The silk-thread employed in the fabric of the fly 

 should, on general occasions, be pretty freely exposed, 



