158 ON FLY MAKING. 



(Black Gnat). Body, ostrich herl ; wings, from a 

 starling's wing feather ; legs, a dark blue dun, or black 

 hackle. 



(Grey Gnat). Body, grey mohair, or wool hackle, 

 with sea-swallow feather. 



(Red Palmer, or Caterpillar). Body, copper- 

 coloured peacock's herl, tied with brown silk, ribbed 

 with gold twist, a bright brown red-stained cock's 

 hackle, having a gold-colour when held between the 

 eye and the light. 



(The Alexandra fly). Body, flat silver twist, 

 hackled with bright feather of green or blue hue, from 

 the neck of a peacock; wings (if any) from the 

 turkey's wing. 



How to dress a simple Hackle : 



The first effort of the fly-making aspirant should 

 be expended upon the wingless artificials ; of these 

 there are two kinds, the plain Hackle and the Palmer ; 

 the former is the best to commence with, it being the 

 easiest to make ;* but before attempting to describe 

 the method, we would remind our readers that there 

 is a vast distinction between practical and verbal 

 teachings. Observation in these matters is superior, 

 as a source for conveying knowledge, to reading ; there- 

 fore, where available, a few lessons from a proficient 

 will be found highly beneficial. 



The process of forming the body for a Hackle fly is 

 not identical with the same operation in the winged 



* Upon some waters these hackled flies are the local standard killers. 

 This partiality is generally due to the source of supply, the local amateur 

 reflecting the local maker's dogmas. 



