ARTIFICIAL FLY 111 



every month in the year, when I come to treat of 

 the flies proper for each month, I shall not take 

 any notice again of the four which T have set 

 down, for that would be totally unnecessary ; but 

 the others that deviate in their size and dubbing 

 from the general rule, will be fully expressed. 



The angler should always try the palmers first, 

 when he fishes in a river that he is unaccustomed 

 to ; and even in that which he constantly uses, 

 without he knows what fly is on the water, and 

 they should never be changed till he does ; the 

 only way to come to the true knowledge of 

 which, he must observe an old established rule 

 laid down for that purpose ; and as it is poeti- 

 cally described by Mr. Gay, I shall give it him 

 in that dress. 



Mark well the various seasons of the year 8 



How the succeeding insect race appear, 



In this revolving moon one colour reigns, 



Which in the next the fickle trout disdains. 



Oft have 1 seen a skilful angler try 



The various colours of the treach'rons fly ; 



When he \vith fruitless pain hath skim'd the brook, 



And the coy fish rejects the skipping hook, 



He shakes the boughs, that on the margin grow, 



Which o'er the stream a weaving forest throw ; 



When if an insect fall (his certain guide) 



He gently takes him from the whirling tid^: 



Examines well his form with curious eyes, 



His gaud) vest, his wings, his horns, and size ; 



Then round his hook ihe chosen fur he winds, 



And on the back a speckled feather binds ; 



So just the colours shine through ev'ry part, 



That Nature seems to live again in art. 



THE BEST METHOD T& MAKE AN ARTIFICIAL 

 FLY, NOT J. PALMER. 



First hold your hook fast betwixt the fore- 

 finger and thumb of your left hand, with the 



