THE LITTLE BLUE AND THE ALDER. 219 



centre ; this should be tied in at the tail and wound up to 

 the shoulders ; the hackle should then be snipped off short 

 all up the body, leaving visible but spiral rings of the 

 short black stubs. Enough of the hackle should be left 

 on at the shoulders to form the legs. Wings, from the 

 woodcock or hen pheasant's wing. 



The Little Blue, or Sky Blue, &c. (see Plate VII. fig. 9, 

 p. 185). This is a small dun, which comes on this month ; 

 the fish are very fond of it, and it would be a very valuable 

 fly to the angler if it were more possible to imitate it pro- 

 perly, which is a most difficult matter from its diminu- 

 tiveness and extreme delicacy and transparency. The best- 

 way to dress it is on a No. 12 or 13 hook: for the body 

 pale buff mohair wound on very closely and neatly, a 

 strand or two being left out for the legs ; tail, two strands 

 of a buff hackle ; wings, of the finest and brightest pale 

 blue feather that can be got the tern or sea-swallow is 

 chiefly used, but I think fine blue hackle-points would be 

 preferable. Perhaps the best way is to dress it hackle 

 fashion or buzz, and to take off nearly all the breast 

 portion of the feather, leaving the upper part to do duty 

 for wings, and the mohair for legs. A pale blue dotterel 

 hackle will be found as good a feather for the purpose as 

 can be used. I have been rather particular with this fly 

 as it appears or others very similar to it do at intervals 

 until the end of the season. When it comes on the trout 

 will often take it for some time, to the exclusion of many 

 other flies which may be coming down the water simul- 

 taneously. 



The Alder or Orl Fly (see Plate VII. fig. 1 5, p. 185). 

 This is one of the best flies that comes upon the water, and 

 was a great favourite of the late Canon Kingsley ; it 

 varies considerably in size, and while some specimens may 

 be found small enough to be dressed on a No. 9 hoox, 

 others may be met with large enough for a No. 6 ; 7 or 8 



