36 OLD FLIES IN NEW DRESSES 



off the head. The head should now be 

 varnished, taking care to clear the eye 

 of the hook, and the fly will appear as 

 shown in the illustrations of imitation Alder 

 and Caddis-flies. 



There is another way of preparing wings 

 which is much better, as it makes the ends 

 of the wings round, though it is more 

 difficult. This was first shown me by Mrs. 

 Richardson of Kings ton-on-Thames. 



The feather is taken and the lower part 

 of the fibres stripped off, till a part is come 

 to suitable for making a wing. A portion 

 of fibres sufficient for making a wing is 

 then separated from the fibres above and 

 bent carefully downwards. If the fibres 

 are stroked very gently between the 

 thumb and first finger, they will arrange 

 themselves, so that their ends present a 

 rounded edge instead of a point. This 

 portion of fibres is then grasped firmly be- 

 tween the thumb and first finger near the 

 quill, and detached therefrom by pulling 

 it smartly downwards. The other wing 

 is prepared in a similar manner from 

 a feather of the opposite wing of the 

 bird. 



