THE FLY FISHER'S GUIDE. 91 



tion will be the best guide in this respect ; and a 

 very trifling degree of attention will soon enable 

 him to distinguish each particular fly at a consi- 

 derable distance, from the peculiarity of its flight, 

 or other marked characteristics. 



Although the imitation of nature is the princi- 

 pal object to be desired by the fly-maker, yet, in 

 some instances, it will be advisable to enlarge or 

 diminish the proportions of the artificial fly, as 

 the state of the water may require. For instance, 

 if the river be very high, the fly may be dressed 

 larger than nature ; if very low, the size may be 

 reduced, and the body made thinner than the 

 natural fly appears ; and in many cases the fly, 

 dressed as a hackle only, without wings, will 

 succeed better than if made full, by the addition 

 of the feathers used for that purpose. 



The colours of the flies will also in some instances, 

 as in the stone fly, duns, &c., undergo considerable 

 change as the season advances, generally becoming 

 lighter with the progress of summer: in this, also, 

 the angler's own observation must direct him. 



