SALMON FLIES. 



157 



From the 1st of February to the 10th of March, writes 

 one of the best anglers on the Shannon, the flies used are 

 very large, as the water is generally high. Those most in 

 use and highly approved of are 



1. Body, half light orange, half blue silk, ribbed with 

 broad silver tinsel and gold twist. The hackle should be 

 light-blue all over the body, under the shoulder a blue jay, 

 orange silk bag, with one of darker hue just over it ; a 

 large lapping for tail, with ten or twelve of the largest-sized 

 lapping' for wings. Sprigs of the leading tail feathers 

 of the golden pheasant, and four long feelers of blue and 

 yellow macaw. This is one of the spring Shannon flies, 

 which has immortalised O'Shaughnessy. It is dressed on 

 a No. 3 and 4 hook with a long shank. 



2. The goldfinch, which is made with a gold-coloured 



The Goldfinch. 



floss silk body, black silk tag tipped with gold tinsel, 

 yellow hackle and gold tinsel, over body, blue jay at the 

 shoulder, and king-fisher over the butts of the wings, which 

 are to consist of eight or nine golden pheasant toppings of 

 uiiddling-size, feelers of red macaw ; head, black ostrich ; 



