134 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 



ful is an absurdity, hence it is they are so frequently dis- 

 carded altogether, the live fly being substituted. But 

 these are not always to be had, even upon the most pro- 

 lific waters, therefore a good artificial proves a most de- 

 sirable auxiliary, even to the live-fly fisher. The main 

 point to direct the attention of the artist, is the choice of 

 material. This should take the precedence of all and 

 everything else in May-fly making; skill in constructing 

 it is not nearly so much called for as in the smaller orders 

 of the same species. Indeed, it may be affirmed that 

 the drake, owing to its size, is comparatively easy, whilst 

 the smallest ephemeral insects may be classed amongst 

 the most difficult. The fly-dresser has to reproduce; but, 

 as we have stated, the difficulty lies in procuring the 

 material requisite for a good artificial. Dyed mallard 

 feathers are for the most part used for wings, but of late 

 years natural ones have been largely employed, notably 

 those of the Egyptian goose, which present a decided 

 brown tinge to the eye, but when held up to the light 

 bear a much nearer resemblance to the tint of the natu- 

 ral. For our part we may say that for several seasons we 

 have used the breast and side feathers of the Canadian 

 wood duck, which, even when looked down upon, strik- 

 ingly favors the peculiar green-yellow tinge of nature's 

 original; and when viewed from beneath, and compared 

 with the genuine thing, the beholder cannot fail to ap- 

 preciate the similarity. The material to be employed in 

 the construction of the body determines, more than any- 

 thing else, the floating powers of the fly. Wheaten 

 straw, when rightly tinted, is the best substance to be 

 employed. This should be well secured at each extrem- 

 ity, and a hollow left in the middle of the body. Red- 

 brown colored silk should be used to bind and form the 

 ribs of this. The whisks should be three strands of a 

 partridge's tail feather; the rabbit's whiskers usually 

 used act very detrimentally as regards hooking the fish, 



