218 FLY-MAKING. 



the body, including the hook, for several turns, and 

 then round the body alone, and secured at the ex- 

 tremity by passing a couple of turns over the end 

 and drawing it through. As this is transparent, it 

 will show the color of the substance below, and may 

 even be wound over floss^silk bodies which do not 

 project beyond the hook, and while adding brilliancy, 

 will protect them from injury. The whisks may be 

 included with the solid material of the body, and 

 an upper section may be added ; the hackles are to 

 be introduced, and the wings secured afterwards ; 

 but although a very perfect imitation, it is not gene- 

 rally so killing as the ordinary artificial fly. 



In giving the preceding directions, it is by no means 

 intended to advise that the table vice should be 

 discarded ; but, on the contrary, a small or hand- 

 some fly can be tied much more easily with its assist- 

 ance. A little practice with the fingers alone will, 

 however, greatly increase one's expertness, and re- 

 move an awkward difficulty in case the vice -should 

 by any chance be left behind. The great objection 

 to tying a fly with the fingers is the risk of mussing 

 the feathers, especially in summer, when perspiration 

 prevails. 



I am indebted to Mr. J. James Hyde, a gentle- 

 man who, although an amateur, is one of the most 

 finished anglers and neatest dressers of a well-imi- 

 tated trout-fly in the United States, for the follow- 

 ing directions for tying all Ronalds's flies with the 

 feathers of our American birds, so that the angler 

 who may be unacquainted with the English feathers 



