CHAP. VII.] THE SECOND DA Y. 253 



JANUARY. 



1. A Red Brown with wings of the male of a mallard almost white ; 

 the dubbing of the tail of a black long-coated cur, such as they commonly 

 make muffs of; for the hair on the tail of such a dog dyes, and turns to a 

 red brown, but the hair of a smooth-coated dog of the same colour will not 

 do, because it will not dye, but retains its natural colour. And this fly is 

 taken, in a warm sun, this whole month through. 



2. There is also a very little Bright Dun Gnat, as little as can possibly 

 be made, so little as never to be fished with, with above one hair next the 

 hook ; and this is to be made of a mixed dubbing of marten's fur, and the 

 white of a hare's scut, with a very white and small wing ; and it is no 

 gi-eat matter how fine you fish, for nothing will rise in this month but a 

 Grayling ; and of them I never, at this season, saw any taken with a fly, 

 of above a foot long, in my life : but of little ones about the bigness 

 of a smelt, in a warm day, and a glowing sun, you may take enough 

 with these two flies ; and they are both taken the whole month 

 through. 



• FEBRUARY. 



1. Where the Red Brown of the last month ends, another, almost of 

 the same colour, begins with this ; saving that the dubbing of this must be 

 of something a blacker colour, and both of them wrapt on with red silk. 

 The dubbing that should make this fly, and that is the truest colour, is 

 to be got off the black spot of a hog's ear : not that a black spot in any 

 part of the hog will not afford the same colour, but that the hair in that 

 place is, by many degrees, softer, and more fit for the purpose. His wing 

 must be as the other ; and this kills all this month, and is called the 

 Lesser Red Brown. 



2. This month, also, a Plain Hackle, or palmer-fly, made with a 

 rough black body, either of black spaniel's fur, or the whirl of an ostrich 

 feather, and the red hackle of a capon over all, will kill, and if the weather. 

 be right, make very good sport. 



3. Also a Lesser Hackle, with a black body, also silver twist over 

 that, and a red feather over all; will fill your pannier, if the month be ojjen, 

 and not bound up in ice and snow, with very good fish ; but in case of a 

 frost and snow, you are to angle only with the smallest gnats, browns, and 

 duns you can maie ; and with those are only to expect Graylings no bigger 

 tlian sprats. 



4. In this month, upon a whirling-round water, we have a Great 

 Hackle, the body black, and wrapt with >i red feather of a capon un- 

 trimmed ; that is, the whole length of the hackle staring out (for we 

 sometimes barb the hackle-feather short all over ; sometimes barb it only 

 a little, and sometimes barb it close underneath), leaving the whole length 

 of the feather on the top or back of the fly, which makes it swim better, 

 and, as occasion serves, kills very great fish. 



5. We make use also, in this month, of another Great Hackle, the 

 body black, and ribbed over with gold twist, and a red feather over all ; 

 which also does great execution. 



6. Also a Great Dun, made with dun bear's hair, and the wings, of fhe 

 grey feather of a mallard near unto the tail ; which is absolutely the best 



