THE SALMON. 173 



single filaments of the same feather as the wings. 

 Of fig. 6, (Plate II.) the wings are formed of the 

 mottled feathers of a peacock's wing, intermixed 

 with any fine plain dusky red ; the best mixture 

 for the body is the light brown inner hair from a 

 bear's skin, sable fur, and gold-coloured mohair ; 

 gold twist, a large black cock's hackle, and a red 

 one a little larger, with a bit of deep red mohair for 

 the head. In addition to these, we might enumerate 

 the brown fly, the blue fly, the king-fisher, the 

 prime dun, the great palmer, the golden pheasant, 

 the grey mallard, and many others ; but such as 

 we have now described may suffice for our present 

 purpose. 



It may be stated at once, and without reserva- 

 tion, that so far from imitating nature, the maker 

 of salmon flies can scarcely form them in too un- 

 natural and extravagant a manner. Let him call 

 in the aid of fancy at all times and places, at least 

 in this country ; for the cold and cloudy clime of 

 Scotland assuredly furnishes nothing resembling 

 the lures most frequently and most successfully 

 used. The superabundant use of gold and silver 

 wire ought, however, to be avoided, as it not only 

 causes the fly to sink too much in the water, but 

 prevents its being neatly or lightly thrown. Spring 

 flies for salmon are usually made of a larger size, 

 though not so gaudily dressed as those of summer. 



A salmon rod is generally proportioned to the 

 size of the river which the angler frequents ; but 

 it ought not to be less than 15 feet in length. 

 Fish by which, of course, we mean salmon, which 



