THE TAV. 



or three copper-coloured peacock herls, red and blue 

 macaw, kingfisher on either cheek ; mohair collar not too- 

 heavy, the colour of which is not orange nor pink, but a 

 sort of madder. Hook, a trifle shorter than the last. 



Sir Alexander gave some directions for varying the 

 flies, and I cannot do better than append his letter. 



A 1 tyre, Forrcs, N.U., July 30, 1865. 



*Ml DEAR SIR, I have selected eight of the flies which 

 I have found most killing on the Findhorn, during twenty 

 years' work. These may IK "successfully varied by chang- 

 ing the colour of the bodies and heads ; red for orange, 

 black for yellow heads, and bodies made black for claret or 

 green, and vice vera&. These eight patterns I generally 

 adhere to throughout the year, by dressing them one, two, 

 and three sizes smaller. Blue bodies may be substituted 

 in the case of the black and two clarets, with advantage to 

 the angler and detriment to the fish. The wings of two 

 are far too long, but this you need not mind. All should 

 have one or two toppings (shortish) for tails, and if the 

 wing is drcss&l thinner it is an immense improvement, 

 where economy is no object, to put two long toppings on 

 the wing. 



4 Yours truly, 



A. P. GORDON GUMMING.' 



THE TAY. 



The Tay is a splendid river. The water is heavy, but 

 some of the pools and streams are magnificent. The 

 fishing on the lower part of the river is mostly from a 

 boat, and the style is called ' barling.' Three rods are 

 used, and the boat is rowed to and fro over the casts. 

 Two of the rods usually have a couple of flies on each, and 

 the third a phantom minnow, and it is not an uncommon 



