PALMER-HACKLES. 1 07 



Elaine's blue dun. Wings, from the tail- 

 feather of a torn -tit ; body, blue water rat's or 

 monkey's fur ; legs, a fine, light blue hackle ; tail- 

 whisks, two blue hairs. Hook, No. 9 or 10. 

 Of this fly, Mr. Elaine says, " It comes on early 

 in March, and continues through April, when it 

 is succeeded by a race of flies in which the blue- 

 dun tinge predominates in various proportions. 

 It is well therefore to be prepared with the gra- 

 dations of this fly, of which the ashy dun ap- 

 pears the first. In favourable days, the blue dun 

 will kill in all the fishing hours, particularly in 

 April, but best towards mid-day. It is likewise 

 almost universal on the British waters." 



The early dark-bodied willow-fly. Wings, 

 the feathers of the starling, or a rich olive feather 

 of a pheasant is preferable : to lie flat and long. 

 Body, dark hare's fur, with claret mohair ; legs, 

 reddish dun hackle, and horns of the same colour.. 

 Hook, No. 6 or 7. 



Nothing can be more true than Mr. Elaine's 

 reasoning touching those very general and very 

 good baits, called palmers, or palmer-hackles. 

 He says, " As they are meant to represent the 

 larvaB or caterpillars of flies, as well as some of the 

 insects themselves, it is very evident that their 

 sizes and colours may be varied to infinity. If 

 our experience did not inform us that they are 

 very effective in taking fish, we should be natu- 



