THE FLY 49 



to appreciate fidelity of line and he is but an indifferent 

 arithmetician. In external conformation the artificial 

 fly need bear little or no resemblance to its prototype, 

 and the number of legs with which it is provided is at 

 the discretion of the maker. Since it seems, however, 

 that the highly sophisticated chalk-stream trout have 

 developed a rudimentary sense of number and no longer 

 accept a fly until satisfied that it is in possession of the 

 normal complement of feet, the Hampshire angler should 

 cease to confine his solicitude entirely to the colour of 

 his lure. Such, at any rate, is the opinion of one in- 

 genious and observant dry-fly fisherman. Finding the 

 trout regardless of his artifice, and determined, if pos- 

 sible, to know the reason why, he caught one of the 

 flies with which they were engaged and subjected it to 

 careful and minute examination. The result surprised 

 him. He discovered the interesting and hitherto un- 

 suspected fact that, while his lure was furnished with 

 quite a multitude of legs, the natural insect owned 

 but — eipfht ! The secret of his failure was revealed to 

 him, and the remedy proved simple ; he removed the 

 superfluous hackle and with it the indifference of the 

 fish. The flies once rejected and despised were then 

 taken with an avidity which suggested that, as amended, 

 they were even more natural than nature herself. 



