50 A DAY AT LOUGH MELVIN. 



casting-lines, and discarded in favour of the 

 dull and sober-coloured breed of the lakes. 

 Tinsel, and golden pheasant, and blue jay, 

 were laid aside, and in their place came 

 the grey and quakerish mallard wing, with 

 brown, or dark blue, or chocolate pig's-wool 

 bodies, and an unpretending black or natural- 

 red hackle over all. 



Then came the tribe of lake trout flies — 

 not new creations, like the salmon flies, 

 which resembled nothing in heaven or earth, 

 but monstrous growths of the natural fly. 

 There was the well-known wall-fly, with its 

 landrail wings, brown silk body, and red 

 hackle. There was the Black Palmer, and 

 .he Marlow Buzz ; but all looking gigantic 

 and unnatural, tied at least three sizes larger 

 than their river brethren. 



The salmon rods, as being too long and 

 too unwieldy for boat work, were left at rest, 

 and their reels were fixed on rods of a lighter 

 and handier description. The Parson's reel- 

 line, which, thoroughly soaked by the yes- 

 terday's rain, had been unwound and hung 

 up to dry, had scarcely been gathered in, 

 when, with clatter and jingle enough for ten 

 carriages, and shouting enough for a dozen 



