76 AMERICAN FISHES. 



In several works upon angling, the term " hackle" is variously ap- 

 plied. We find it synonymous with " palmer," which expresses an 

 artificial fly and a caterpillar. We find instructions to prepare the 

 " hackle" to make the fly ; and again, we are instructed to fish with a 

 "hackle" or a "palmer." Thus the angler is confounded. The 

 " hackle" is at one moment a feather, and at the next a fly — the fly of 

 one angler is the hackle of another ; a hackle is nothing more than the 

 feather of a bird, and a portion of the material which composes the 

 palmer. 



There is also some apparent inconsistency in the use of the term 

 " palmer fly." The term " palmer," as I understand it, is only appli- 

 cable when speaking of the " palmer worm ;" but as this worm is des- 

 tined to become a winged insect, the term " palmer fly" or " palmer 

 hackle " is, according to my notion, a more expressive term than 

 " hackle" or " palmer" alone. The palmer is the insect represented 

 — the hackle is the material to form the representation. 



The foregoing few general remarks 1 have deemed necessary — not 

 from any desire to infringe upon old and perhaps well-established 

 names, but for the purpose of inducing others to examine the subject. 



A little research upon this apparently unimportant matter led mo 

 into a labyrinth, from which I have with diflBculty escaped ; and I am 

 by no means assured that my views may not increase the mystification 

 of om- angling vocabulary. 



No. 7. Green Drake or May Fly. — Wings — The mottled 

 feather of the mallard dyed yellow, to stand rather erect and divided. 

 Body — Yellow mohair, ribbed with peacock's herl and orange silk. 

 Legs — Red ginger hackle. Tail forked with two or three hairs. 

 Hook— 1:^0. 5, 6, or 7. 



There are other modes of dressing this fly, but I prefer the above. 



No. 8. Gray Drake. — Wings — The gray feather of a mallard, if; 

 not too dark, to stand erect. Head — A morsel of peacock's harl. 

 Body — Fine down from a white pig, light gray camlet, or whitish gray 

 ostrich herl, striped with deep maroon silk. Tail forked with two or 

 three gray hairs. Legs — A grizzled hackle. Hook — No 5, 6, or 7. 



The green or gray drake is not, so far as I can judge, an American 



