THE FLY 45 



unreal. The artist in fly-dressing has, on the whole, 

 been happier in his efforts to reproduce the perfection 

 of nature in this than in the other flies chosen for illus- 

 tration, but he is still far short of the attainment of an 

 assured success. Fig. 12 is, in the colour and the atti- 

 tude of the wings, ridiculously unlike its prototype, and 

 the difference between it and Fig. 2 from the same work 

 is so slight as to be almost imperceptible. 



A. and B. are earnest advocates of the system they 

 espouse. They are convinced believers in the doctrines 

 of their cult. Since, however, the evidence with which 

 they endeavour to promote their cause excites to scep- 

 ticism rather than to faith, their missionary efforts are 

 unlikely to induce the unbeliever to forsake his unbelief. 

 The conflict between their words and the pictorial re- 

 productions of the lures they use is much too obvious. 

 Had they refrained from illustration we might have 

 been persuaded that their case was good, but in pro- 

 viding us with a means of contrasting their practice with 

 their theories they have foolishly betrayed themselves. 

 They tell us, quite sincerely, that in the construction of 

 the artificial fly they follow nature's teaching ; it will be 

 long before they overtake the object of their chase. 



If the trout fail to see the distinction between A.'s 

 representation of the February Red and those of B., or 



