THE FLY 39 



like image of it designed by man, will have some diffi- 

 culty in perceiving the resemblance between them. 

 The points in which they are alike are few and obscure; 

 the distinctions many and obtrusive. If the unlikeness 

 is obvious to the eye of man it should leap to the eye 

 of a creature so quick of sight that, as we are con- 

 fidently assured, it unfailingly detects the most trifling 

 departure from nature even in the dark ; so keenly 

 observant that, though it gets but a passing glimpse of 

 it, it rejects a fly because of some abnormality of colour 

 so minute as to escape our dull, imperfect vision. 



The latest and most strenuous advocate of the imita- 

 tion of nature theory confesses his faith in the following 

 words: — "You may not raise fish by plying lures in 

 imitation of insects on the water or due to be there, but 

 if you do not you will certainly be unsuccessful with 

 others." The truth of the statement is unassailable, 

 but it would be quite as true were it transposed. You 

 may fail to raise fish by employing lures not in imitation 

 of the fly on the water or due to be there, but if you do 

 fail, you are unlikely to succeed with those that are. 



The writer in question possesses strong convictions. 

 He is satisfied that the use of a lure dressed in the like- 

 ness of a natural fly is essential to success. A fly 

 evolved from the inner consciousness of the angler 



