FLIES. 29 



out the intended wings and body before you ; wax 

 your silk, and applying one end of it to the gut and 

 hook together, wrap them both round four or five times, 

 commencing a little below the end of the shank, and 

 proceeding downwards ; you then fasten, by drawing 

 the disengaged end of the thread through under the last 

 turn of the wrapping. Work the silk upwards to where 

 you commenced, then take your wings, which are still 

 unseparated, and lay them along your hook, so that 

 their extremity or tips shall reach its curve ; twirl the 

 thread twice round the upper part, which lies along the 

 shank top ; then, taking it under, press firm, and clip 

 off the unnecessary portion of the feather ; divide with 

 your point or penknife, so as to form the two wings ; 

 take up the silk betwixt them, and wrapping again round 

 at the head, bring it back crosswise ; then lift your 

 hackle, and lay the root of it down along your hook ; 

 whip the thread over, as far as your first fastening ; 

 seize the top of the hackle with your nippers, and whirl 

 it round in the same manner ; fasten and lengthen the 

 body to your liking with fresh floss silk ; fasten once 

 more, and your fly is made. This last fastening ought in 

 our opinion to be the same as that used in arming bait- 

 hooks, for which we quote Hawkins's directions : 

 '* When you are within about four turns of the bend 

 of the hook, take the shank between the fore-finger and 

 thumb of the left hand, and place the silk close by it, 

 holding them both tight, and leaving the end to hang 

 down ; then draw the other part of the silk into a large 

 loop, and with your right hand turning backwards, con- 

 tinue the whipping for four turns, and draw the end of 

 the silk (which has all this while hung down under 

 the root of your left thumb) close, and twitch it off." 

 When the body of your fly is required to be of hare's 

 ear or mouse skin, pull out a small quantity of the fur, 



