FLY-MAKING. 435 



numerous as the legs or bristling hairs of larvae. Thirdly, the 

 cock's hackle should not extend over more than half as much 

 of the shank of the hook, as it does in the Hackle-fly I have 

 already shown you how to tie ; and, in winding it on, the 

 fibres should be pressed downwards under the belly of the 

 fly ; few or none of them being allowed to remain sticking 

 up between the wings. Fourthly, space enough should be 

 left at the head for setting on the wings and fastening off. 



By referring to the foregoing illustration, the reader will 

 observe, as I have already explained, that figure 2 is a section 

 clipped from a feather. By doubling the two edges of the 

 section togther, it will represent wings pointing obliquely in 

 different directions. (See figure 3.) Now double it again, 

 and still again, if necessary, and compress the fibres closely 

 between your thumb and forefinger, and lay them on the back 

 of the hook, so that the edge of the section will set upwards, 

 as you will observe in figures 5, 6, 7, or 8 of the plate of 

 Trout-flies. Wow take three turns with your silk, clip off the 

 surplus at the butt end of the wings, and fasten off with the 

 invisible knot as already shown. 



Tails. — In flies where tinsel is not used, the tail is fastened 

 in immediately after the gut is whipped on. If the body is 

 tipped with tinsel, this material is first wrapped on, and the 

 tail fastened in above it. 



Much unnecessary trouble is spared by not attempting to 

 tie on the wings (either of Trout or Salmon flies) separately, 

 as some writers direct. Nor is at all necessary to pass the 

 wrapping-silk diagonally between the fibres to separate them 

 into wings. For in doubling the section of a feather, as 

 already shown, the fibres will point somewhat obliquely in 

 opposite directions, representing the two points of the wings; 

 and even if they do not, it makes no difference, for most of 

 the natural flies that light on the water belong to that order 



