INDEX. 



AT the time this book was written, the angling flies 

 were a mixed mass, without order or class, and without 

 any descriptions of their kinds, sizes, shapes, or colors. 

 Their names were a chance medley given by the anglers 

 of different streams, and what they were called on one 

 water would rarely distinguish them on another. 

 After years of examination of the flies for the purpose 

 of imitation, it was observable that several of them 

 were of the same shape, but differing in their sizes 

 and colors, and that several more were of another 

 shape, varying likewise in their sizes and colors. This 

 hinted the system of separation according to shapes 

 and construction, which divided the mixed mass of flies 

 into seven distinct parts or classes. Researches were 

 resumed each succeeding season, so long as any of the 

 aquatic or land flies that are of interest to the flyfiisher 

 could be met with. They were generally taken alive, 

 and were closely examined, measured, drawn, and 

 described, and placed to their respective classes. This 

 ultimately severed the mixed mass, and gave to each 

 individual fly in the classes a " local habitation and a 

 name." The design and order of their structure was 

 by the great Architect that made them : He formed 

 them in classes, and stamped each class with its own 

 peculiar family likeness. 



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