SP1DEE FLIES. 81 



The artificial flies in commom use may be divided 

 into two classes. There is first the winged fly, 

 which alone, properly speaking, merits the appella- 

 tion ; and there is the palmer hackle or spider, by 

 which last name we mean to call it, believing that if 

 it resembles anything in the insect tribe, it is a 

 spider. As a means of capturing trout, we rank 

 them higher than the winged imitations. When 

 trout are taking, winged flies will answer very well ; 

 and sometimes, but very rarely, we have found them 

 more killing than spiders. But in the summer 

 months, when trout are well fed and become lazy, 

 or where they are much fished for, and become shy, 

 we have found spiders much more deadly than the 

 most tempting winged fly that can be made. Nor 

 is it necessary to go very much out of the way to 

 seek a reason for this : the hook is better concealed, 

 and if made of sufficiently soft materials, the water 

 agitates the feathers, and gives them a life-like 

 appearance, which has a wonderful effect, and is of 

 itself a sufficient reason for trout preferring them, 

 without supposing, as some do, that spiders are 

 greater rarities than flies, with a variety of other 

 fine-spun theories. 



By universal consent, feathers seem to have been 

 fixed upon as the most suitable materials for imitat- 

 ing flies. Some years ago gutta percha wings were 

 tried, but in every respect they are inferior. The 

 selection of proper feathers requires some care ; they 

 should always be taken from the birds when in their 



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