ON SALMON FLIES. 57 



is not easy to give or to receive a very proper idea 

 of by mere description, and of which an individual 

 can only acquire a correct notion from personal ex- 

 perience and attention to those in general practice. 

 For instance, instead of a full dress, starched-looking 

 fly, give it rather upon the whole as much of a 

 modest, maggot appearance as possible. The wings 

 should lie at seeming ease, less than half extended 

 from the sides of its body, which body is the better 

 of looking somewhat caterpillar-like. 



I do not allege that the materials of fur and feather 

 here specified, are the very best of any to be found 

 in the range of nature for the effects I intend to be 

 produced : they are only the best I have found con- 

 venient, being our own local product. What I 

 advise relates more properly to the general com- 

 binations of the colours, shape, and size of the fly, as 

 suitable to the high or low state of the water, than 

 to the particular materials by w T hich such a com- 

 bination may be best effected. For instance, several 

 foreign birds and fowls such as the Bengal and 

 other kinds of bustard, the pencilled and silver 

 pheasants produce beautiful feathers, particularly 

 of the black-and-white, barred, and mottled kinds. 

 There are many English fowls, the plumage of some 

 hundreds of which I have seen (preserved by a gentle- 



