AN ORDERLY FLY. 87 



on these strips. Easily said, no doubt, but not quite so easily done, 

 unless one knows how. Thus then : 



Using the STOP to keep the fibres in their regular, natural order, and 

 not lapping over each other, pass the silk round them, but not as if you 

 were running cord round a parcel. The silk must be passed round loosely, 

 the STOP finger must then press down from above against it, and be kept 

 firm whilst the silk is drawn fairly taut. Partially remove the STOP 

 finger while you place silk again over to far side, give another turn, 

 tighter still, whilst the STOP finger presses as before. Make off. Be very 

 careful to keep all fibres in position. 



Section V. This done, move left fore-finger and thumb up close to 

 the tying point, and hold that part together with the work behind it in a 

 firm grip ; release silk and put it in CATCH, and with right fore-finger and 

 thumb lift up the waste ends of the strips of wing upon the top of the 

 shank. If they are too short to catch hold, push the waste ends up with 

 point of stiletto, which should be held in a vertical position. 



The wing-strips should, hereupon, present an orderly appearance, 

 both in their "marrying" and in their springing neatly and well together 

 from the same point, like a half-shut fan. 



They will not yet, however, sit down close upon the under- wing; that 

 union will be effected by subsequent work. 



Section VI. The near wing-strips are similarly laid on and treated. 

 In their case, however, a different principle is adopted. The very binding 

 and pressure of STOP finger of the far side strips compels the sharp edges 

 to assume their correct position, whilst on the near side of the wing, the 

 tying-silk has an opposite effect. It is, therefore, necessary after placing 

 the strips in position (the silk being in CATCH) to make the left thumb 

 serve the same purpose as the STOP finger in the former instance that is 

 to say, the thumb presses the part of the strips that is to be tied down 

 from above. Without relaxing the pressure so given, the thumb is then 

 slightly drawn back out of the way temporarily, in order that the tying- 

 silk may be placed over, and the work continued. Some dressers prefer 

 to tie down the near wing by hitching the silk under the point of the 

 hook-shank, and then winding it towards them ; but the plan is not one 

 to be recommended in this book. Before making off, do not forget to lift 



