280 A BOOK ON ANGLING 



of the Coquet. I mention these facts, that anglers may be 

 aware of them when they are fishing Highland rivers. 



The accompanying patterns I obtained from Sir A. P. 

 Gordon Gumming,* one of the best amateur tyers in the North. 

 They are all old well-used favourites, and are the result of 

 twenty years' experience. The Findhorn spring flies are rather 

 large and showy not so large as the Dee flies, perhaps, but 

 full large, some of the flies (the largest) being dressed on the 

 ordinary Limerick hook, from No. 2 to No. 5. In low bright 

 water they may be used smaller than this. 



No. i. Tag, gold thread and puce floss ; tail, a good sized 

 topping, some tippet, and a kingfisher feather; butt, black 

 ostrich ; body, lightish claret floss ; silver tinsel and gold 

 twist (not together, but equidistant) ; hackle, light claret, 

 blue jay at shoulder ; wing, two large tippet feathers, almost 

 the full length of the wing, over it sprigs of gold pheasant tail, 

 a good many sprigs of both red and blue macaw, slips of brown 

 gled and dark bustard ; on either shoulder, nearly half the 

 length of the wing, the tips of two blue macaw feathers ; the 

 head is composed of orange mohair, set on like a hackle, and 

 forming a ruff. Most of the Findhorn flies are mounted in this 

 way, and it makes them very conspicuous. In some Sir 

 Alexander used the soft silky Pinna marina, and it has a very 

 striking effect. The hook of this fly is a No. 2 or 3. The size 

 sent is between the two. 



No. 2. Tag, silver thread and yellow floss ; tail, a good- 

 sized topping ; some tippet, and gallina, butt, black ostrich ; 

 body, copper-coloured floss ; broad silver tinsel and narrow 

 gold ditto side by side ; hackle, medium claret, blue jay at 

 shoulder ; wing, as before, the tippets not quite so long, a 

 little English bustard, brown mallard, and brown speckled 

 turkey instead of gled, and bright bustard, red macaw and 

 pale green swan sprigs, no blue macaw at all ; hook, a size 

 smaller than the last. 



No. 3. Tag, silver thread and ruby floss ; tail, a good-sized 



* Since the above was printed I have had the news of poor Sir Alexander's 

 death. But a short year since I enjoyed the pleasure of his hospitality in 

 his beautiful residence on the banks of the lovely Findhorn ; we fished, tied 

 flies, and held sweet converse upon matters piscatorial, day by day, and I 

 have seldom enjoyed a week more thoroughly than that I spent at Altyre ; 

 he was then apparently in the pride of his strength and the prime of man- 

 hood. How beautifully he tied the salmon fly, blending its colours into one 

 harmonious combination, and with what a workmanlike and skilful hand 

 he hurled it across the waters ; but alas and in truth it will be long ere I 

 shall " look upon his like again ! " F. F. 



