128 ANGLING. 



wings full, and a brownish-red hue, which should slant 

 over a yellow floss silk body, covered with goldbeater's 

 skin, and ribbed with brown sUk ; a lap or two of bronze pea- 

 cock tail will finish the head. On warm windy days it will 

 be found very attractive. 



At first the beginner may Sx the bend of the hook in a 

 table or hand-vice, and use the nippers to twist the hackle 

 under the wings, particularly when the wings are placed on 

 the natural way at first. He will, if moderately handy, 

 soon dispense with these impedimenta. 



Now with respect to the colour of the flies. A wide 

 range of material fails to give the fly-maker every tint he 

 requires, so that he is obliged to have recourse to the dyer's 

 art. 



With respect to the dyeing of materials for fly-making, 

 I have found Judson's simple dyes easy of application, and 

 giving nearly every variety of tint, by judicious admixture. 

 In order, however, that the ambitious fly-fisher should have 

 every convenience at command, I give a few tried recipes 

 for making the dyes themselves. 



The green drake dye. — To make the famous May- 

 fly well is the acme of the fly-dresser's art, and one of the 

 great difiiculties is the proper colour for the wings, which 

 are generally formed of the dappled feathers from the under 

 side of a mallard's wing, dyed yellow green, which is some- 

 what difficult to imitate. Mr Placker's method is as 

 follows : — " Boil two or three handfuls of yellow wood one 

 hour in a quart of soft water ; wash the mallard hackles in 

 soap and hot water, then boil them a short time with a 

 large spoonful of alum and tartar in a little pipkin with a 

 pint of water, take them out and immerse them in your 

 yellow decoction, and simmer them slowly for an hour or 



