CHAP. vii. THE SECOND DAY. 219 



an ostrich feather, and the red hackle of a capon over all, will 

 kill, and, if the weather be right, make very good sport. 



3. Also a lesser hackle, with a black body, also silver twist 

 over that, and a red feather over all, will fill your pannier, if the 

 month be open, and not bound up in ice and snow, with very 

 good fish ; but, in case of a frost and snow, you are to angle 

 only with the smallest gnats, browns, and duns you can make; 

 and with those are only to expect graylings no bigger than sprats. 



4. In this month, upon a whirling round water, we have a 

 great hackle, the body black, and wrapped with a red feather of 

 a capon untrimmed; that is, the whole length of the hackle 

 staring out (for we sometimes barb the hackle-feather short all 

 over; sometimes barb it only a little, and sometimes barb it 

 close underneath), leaving the whole length of the feather on 

 the top or back of the fly, which makes it swim better, and, as 

 occasion serves, kills very great fish. 



5. We make use, also, in this month, of another great hackle, 

 the body black, and ribbed over with gold twist and a red 

 feather over all ; which also does great execution. 



6. Also a great dun, made with dun bear's hair, and the wings 

 of the grey feather of a mallard near unto his tail ; which is 

 absolutely the best fly can be thrown upon a river this month, 

 and with which an angler shall have admirable sport. 



7. We have also this month the great blue dun, the dubbing 

 of the bottom of bear's hair next to the roots, mixed with a little 

 blue camlet, the wings of a dark grey feather of a mallard. 



8. We have also this month a dark-brown, the dubbing of the 

 brown hair off the flank of a brended cow, and the wings of the 

 grey drake's feather. 



And note, that these several hackles, or palmer-flies, are 

 some for one water and one sky, and some for another ; and, 

 according to the change of those, we alter their size and 

 colour ; and note also, that both in this, and all other months 

 of the year, when you do not certainly know what fly is taken, 

 or cannot see any fish to rise, you are then to put on a small 

 hackle, if the water be clear, or a bigger if something dark, 

 until you have taken one; and then thrusting your finger 



