THE ART OF FLY-MAKING. 



595 



the wing should be put on immediately, after wrapping on the gut. 

 Some old-fashioned makers maintain that a pair of wings should 

 be put on, each one separately. This is certainly unnecessary, for 

 most of the natural flies we observe on the water, if alive, have 

 their wings folded together, appearing as one. Especially is this 

 •h« case with the Ephemeridas, which are most numerous. 



Let me ask the reader to cast his eye on the plate above. He 

 will observe that the fibres incline towards the top end of the 

 feather. Now each of these, on the sides where they come in con- 

 tact, if examined with a microscope, will be found to contain a 

 regular series of little hooks, if I may so call them, forming a con- 



