134 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING 



I have already given. Here are six flies, which I 

 have always found the most successful : I do not 

 mean to say that they are the best that can be used, 

 but only that they are such as I have most con- 

 fidence in from experience. They were tied by my 

 fisherman Charles Purdie, and in such a manner as 

 to make them cut their way steadily through the 

 water. They are known by different names ; so 

 that when I say to my fisherman give me this, or 

 give me that, mentioning the patronymic, forth it 

 comes, without the trouble of searching over the 

 book myself. 



Two of these flies are of the masculine gender, 

 three of the feminine, and one of the neuter. The 

 masculine are Michael Scott and Kinmont Willie; 

 the feminine, the Lady of Mertoun or the Flower of 

 Y arrow, Meg with the Muckle Mouth in her usual 

 dress, and Meg in her bravery or, Scottice, braws. 

 The fly of the neuter gender has been called Toppy 

 from time immemorial. 



No. i. 



Kinmont Willie. 



Wings .... Mottled feather from under the wing 



of a male teal. 



Head .... Yellow wool. 



Body .... Fur of the hare's ear. 



End of body . . . Red wool. 



Tail .... Yellow wool. 



Round the body . . Black-cock's hackle. 



I found this fly very successful in the Annan when 

 I lived at Kinmont, from which place it derives its 

 name, 



