UPSTREAM WIND 91 



It is true that fur, when wet, is extraordinarily trans- 

 lucent. It is probable that the gold catches some of the 

 green of the under- water weeds reflected upward from below. 

 But still the facts as known to us suggest some problem 

 of the eyesight of the trout which requires solution if we 

 are to arrive at a true theory of the art of fly dressing. 



It has been suggested that the artificial is taken in 

 this case for the natural fly, either just hatching out of its 

 shuck and not entirely extricated, or else standing on its 

 shuck. But if that is so, why should not all the upwinged 

 duns be represented upon similar principles ? 



At one time the late Mr. F. M. Halford was a great 

 advocate of the Gold-ribbed Hare's ear, but I believe that 

 latterly his enthusiasm for precise imitation induced him 

 to give it up, successful pattern though he knew it to be, 

 because he could not explain its success to his satisfaction. 



I confess I do not take it to be a lure. The trout do 

 not take it like a lure. I believe they take it for a natural 

 insect — the medium olive dun — which is on at the time. 

 But why ? It is, by the side of this problem, easy to see 

 why the Blue Quill is regarded by the fish as the pale 

 watery dun. 



Still, the Hare's ear kills. And I should like to know 

 who was the genius who first conceived its possibilities, 

 and how he got at his theory. 



If we had that information progress might be possible. 



2. UPSTREAM WIND. 



It is true that it had snowed and hailed and sleeted, and 

 wintry-blasted and rained every day of April up to and in- 

 cluding the Saturday of Easter; but my friend "Fleur-de- 

 Lys" need not have been so demned superior on the telephone 

 when he cried off our engagement to go down that afternoon 

 to open our Hampshire season together. It is some satis- 



