Chapter XXI. 



FROM THE FISHES' POINT OF VIEW. 



Our member, " Glanrhos," is, I think, right ; many 

 fly-dressers, even when they go to nature for their 

 models, still fail to appreciate the point from which the 

 fishes view the natural fly, and also the conditions 

 under which they see it, this being especially the case 

 with the makers of dry flies. 



If asked what is the colour of a common house fly 

 as seen by the fish, it is probable that the great 

 majority of fly-dressers would unhesitatingly reply 

 " dark grey," and although this may approximate to 

 the truth, from our point of view, if we consider the 

 conditions and circumstances under which the house 

 fly appears to the fish, the reply is probably " quite 

 wrong." 



Let us suppose that the conditions are bright sun- 

 shine and wind, and the fly floating on the surface. 

 Viewed from below in sunshine the house fly is orange, 

 black, and ochreous in colour, due to the light coming 

 through it, and the wings are iridescent at almost any 

 angle. When the fly alights on the water the hairs 

 which clothe its body carry innumerable small air 

 bubbles which float the fly lightly, but the consequent 

 surface tension, reflection, and refraction of the water 

 viewed from below, give an appearance of silver and 



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