OLD TYPES OF FLIES. 225 



Grey," but has red silk at the tag, and a red hackle under Jay at the 

 throat. What an endless and perhaps impossible work it would be to 

 explain all these patterns in detail ! 



The Clarets on the Erne, and other Irish flies whipped up with a 

 black hackle and plain Mallard wing still hold their own, like the Blues 

 on the Lee, but the majority are hardly worth describing, as the local 

 manufacturers dress them in a variety of ways merely to please the fancy 

 of customers in their own particular district. 



Scotland, like Ireland, but not to such an extent, has necessitated 

 considerable enquiry. The " Gordon," one of the champions of the 

 North, has cost more for postage stamps than the fly is worth in the 

 South. But this, the best of all the Dee flies, is hardly ever dressed by 

 two rnsn alike. The fish will have it, in Spring and Autumn, and I am 

 quite at a loss to decide which of the two foregoing descriptions is to be 

 recommended. However, I use the sword feather of the Golden Pheasant 

 only for the largest patterns. The " Blue Charm," among others to 

 which prominence is given, has never been heard of in out of the way 

 places. Even in England this fly is hardly known by sight or name ; 

 indeed, in districts not far south of Aberdeen many would like to class 

 it with those of the Irish division for having changed its costume. But 

 in its own neighbourhood, as made now, during the months of April, 

 May and June the pattern has no rival nearer than " Jeannie," or 

 " Logic," which little companion flies are still turned out in their original 

 garb. 



Among the Scotch flies, not included in this list, is the " Gledwing," 

 (otherwise remembered as the " Glentana Gled,") from the fact that the 

 hawk of the same name formerly supplied materials for the wing. But 

 when the hawk died on Deeside the fly died too ; or, in more staid 

 language, the kite is now extinct in that neighbourhood, and, as far as 

 regards any special distinction, so is the fly, for no imitation of its 

 attractive wing-feather has proved of equal avail. 



But what a number of instances I could bring forward as proof 

 positive of the singular value and special effect of certain of the Standard 

 patterns ! Alas, for the class of Fishermen who fondly imagine they 

 can hold their own anywhere at the present time with no more than 



Q 



