FAITH 97 



Simultaneously with my own experiments re- 

 corded in this volume, Mr. F. M. Halford was 

 engaged in establishing and proving his latest 

 series of patterns, in which he endeavours to 

 approximate more closely than ever before to the 

 coloration and attitude of the natural insects, 

 especially in his series of spinners. In an article 

 over the signature " Detached Badger," which 

 appeared in the Field of October 22, 1904, Mr. 

 Halford was at some pains to prove that these 

 spinners must be taken floating ; but the feature 

 of these patterns is that they do not, like the old 

 patterns, sit cocked upon the surface, lifted half- 

 hackle-high above it, but, being sparsely dressed, 

 lie low on the water, practically flush with the 

 surface, and thus achieve a closer approximation 

 to the spent natural insect than did the old 

 patterns. This, as much as the more exact color- 

 ation, may account for the success of these 

 patterns. And, after all, a fly that is flush with 

 the water is perilously close to the edge of wet. 

 Tup's Indispensable fished as a spinner in the 

 evening rise will often kill better semi - sub- 

 merged and flush with the surface than thoroughly 

 dried and oiled. It usually serves me well, and 

 I have accordingly scarcely tried Mr. F. M. Hal- 

 ford's new patterns, but when I have done so it 

 has been wet that they have been taken, and 

 not dry. 



I mentioned a few pages back that another 



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