104 



Ko. 2. |Hje 90lacfe 6toat 



does not appear until nearly the end of 

 April. The body is made with a black strip 

 from an ostrich feather, and must be dressed 

 thick, and rather short ; the wings of a pale 

 starlings feather ; or it is equally neat if 

 dressed as a hackle, for which purpose a pale 

 dun is most suitable. 



Although this fly is generally highly prais- 

 ed by writers on Angling, and by^some has 

 been recommended as a standard, or never 

 failing fly, the character which it has obtain- 

 ed is infinitely too favourable. During 

 several seasons in which the compiler made 

 use of this fly, he observed that it was neg- 

 lected by the fish if a grouse hackle was 

 upon the same line ; and that his other flies 

 always proved more attractive than the black 

 gnat. But, as it is a favourite fly with many 



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