402 MANUAL FOE YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



legs of a bittern's hackle, or a gray cock's; wings the 

 brown feathers of a white owl. Hook No. 5 or 6. 



Salmon-flies are made on the same principle as the 

 trout-flies, but as they are larger, so they are capable of 

 being tied with greater exactness and finish. They are 

 generally of much more gaudy materials than the trout- 

 flies, and in this respect they have latterly been used still 

 more richly colored than was formerly the case, even in 

 Ireland. Until lately, very sober salmon-flies were ordi- 

 narily used in Scotland, the prevailing colors being gray, 

 brown, buff, and brick-dust ; but now it is found that a 

 much more brilliant set of colors will answer far better, 

 and the Irish favorites, viz., scarlet, bright yellow, blue, 

 and green, are the fashion, united with less bright top- 

 pings — as, for instance, the tail-feather of the pheasant, 

 or the back or breast of the bittern or turkey. In Wales 

 more sober flies are still in vogue ; straw colors, natural 

 mottles and pheasant or turkey feathers being considered 

 the most killing. Tinsels are however approved of in all 

 three localities, and are used more or less in almost every 

 salmon-fly. In nearly all cases this fly consists of a body, 

 a head, legs, and tail, and wings of a very compound 

 nature ; but the mode of tying is very similar to that- 

 adopted in trout fly-making. Most salmon-flies are tied 

 with a small loop of gut attached to the shank, instead 

 of, as in the trout-fly, a full length of that material ; some- 

 times a bristle or a piece of wire is bent for the purpose, 

 and again in some cases the gut, either plain or twisted, is 

 tied on as in the trout-fly. Whichever mode is adopted, 

 the end or ends of the gut or bristle must be shaved off, 



