UP- WINGED ARTIFICIALS. 145 



shades lighter. To distinguish the correct colour of 

 a fly as presented to the fish, we know of no better 

 method than to place it in a clear glass of water, and 

 hold it between the eye and the light in such a position 

 as to be able to see underneath the insect The 

 precise shade of both legs, wings, and body will then 

 be accurately ascertained. 



How TO DRESS THE FLY. What we hereafter 

 endeavour to expound may deviate somewhat from 

 the general rules laid down by former writers ; but 

 when we state that the method of construction to be 

 hereafter divulged has been to us as good as a patent 

 since we originated the same, we trust our motive m 

 finally making public the result of our researches in 

 this by no means unimportant branch of our delight- 

 ful art, will not be misconstrued, as has, we fear, been 

 already the case with more than one predecessor and 

 originator of improvements in artificials,* whose 

 works have been calumniated by individuals who, to 

 hide their own incompetency, have adopted the plan 

 of criticising the achievements of men of known 

 merit. But we digress. It is customary to make 

 all up-winged artificials with drooping wings. These, 

 when wet, or when drawn through the water, lie 

 perfectly y?#/ on the back of the hook, and when this is 

 the case with a dun or spinner, or other ephemeral, it 

 is a glaring departure from the original. To dress 

 up-winged flies so as to retain their all but erect 

 attitude in the water, and that when subjected to 

 hard and heavy use, we give the following : Let us 



*Blacker, of famed memory, to wit. 



