

THE SPIDER-FLY. 81 



Birds yielding such feathers, although infrequent,, 

 may always, with a little exertion on the part of the 

 fancier, be picked up and purchased. The hackles 

 themselves ought to be selected about or after the 

 middle of winter, before at least any symptoms of 

 moulting take place. Those pulled from an old cock are 

 often too wiry and stiff for use. Herls from the plover's 

 crest, and the neck of the male starling will be found 

 excellent substitutes for the hackles of the barn-fowl in 

 the manufacture of small dark -coloured flies; indeed, 

 feathers of many descriptions, and from a great variety 

 of birds, are useful for this purpose. The ostrich and 

 peacock furnish, in their way, valuable herls ; but an 

 admirable resemblance to the legs, feelers, and body of 

 the insect may be constructed, by lovers of variety, from 

 the neck-feather of the partridge. 



Having thus treated of those lures in which the hackle 

 forms an important item, I proceed to notice the hare's- 

 ear fly, commonly, in Scotland, denominated the hare- 

 lug. The virtues possessed by this imitation have long 

 been known, and are generally appreciated. For my 

 own part, as a purely trouting fly, I hold it in higher 

 regard than I do the hackle itself. On waters much 

 thrashed, and where the fish have become shy and 

 cunning, it is infinitely more serviceable ; on the Tyne, 

 for instance, in East Lothian, &c. &c. ; also, during 

 summer, on lochs and rivers slightly reduced by drought. 

 The wing used with it may, as in the case of the hackle, 

 be varied according to taste. I prefer that formed of 

 the woodcock feather, when dressed on a good-sized 

 hook, but the snipe, landrail, and brown mallard furnish 

 excellent substitutes. 



A very killing lure for trout may also be fabricated, 

 by surmounting a twitch of the hare's ear with the 



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