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your fly, it will be necessary to draw many of the fibre* 

 of feathers into their proper directions ; thus, the legs 

 must be formed by pulling down such fibres as stand on 

 the back of the fly, either out altogether, or into places 

 leloiv : their length must also be regulated as well as 

 their quantity, taking care to have more legs under the 

 breast than under the body ; the latter should be picked 

 with a needle, cc. so as to make the mohair appear a 

 little between the foldings of the hackle. The wings 

 should be carefully equalized, both in length, and thick- 

 ness, and in direction from the body. 



Do not be afraid of making your wings stand rather 

 wide; for, when you draw the fly through the w r ater, 

 they will collapse considerably ; especially after being * 

 little time in use. 



When you have occasion to use the hackles of common 

 poultry, ever select such as grow on the necks (near the 

 heads), and on the loins of gamecocks : those from barn- 

 door fowls, especially hen's feathers, though seemingly 

 good, do not answer j they are too pliant, and neither 

 shew nor swim well. Always get die feathers you want, 

 such as it'ood-cocbs, partridges, star tings ^ &c. from the 

 cock birds, for the above reason. 



In putting on hackles, &c. be careful to keep the? 

 glossy, or outer side of the feather, in such position, 

 that when the fly is made, it will be exteriorly brilliant : 

 for this reason, when ycu whip on a hackle,- advert to 

 which side of the plumage was stripped off j and carry it 

 round, either with or against the sun, accordingly ; so 

 that the upper side of the feather, which is ah\ ays the 

 highest coloured, may be next to the head. 



When you have occasion to use a very large hackle, 

 o you 



