86 HACKLE-FEATHEKS. 



afford an infinite variety of feathers for gaudy 

 flies. 



Hackle-feathers are very valuable, and, as Mr. 

 Elaine says, ' they are generally those which deck 

 the neck and rump of the cock. Such haekles 

 only should be chosen as have fibres about half an 

 inch long, and those from the game-fowl are to be 

 preferred. The principal colours are white, black, 

 grizzled, grey,, ginger, light red, dark red, and the 

 variety in which the dark red is divided by a 

 black listing. The dun or blue hackle is difficult 

 to obtain, not only on account of the colour, but 

 because, as it is wanted to dress minute flies (the 

 duns), those of the dun cock are rather too long 

 and gross, and those of the dun hen too weak.' 

 The dun hackle is seldom to be got pure. Fowls' 

 feathers should be plucked in winter, and from 

 full-grown birds. The feathers of male fowls are 

 generally the best. The backs and tails of the 

 partridge, grouse, golden plover, snipe, and some 

 other wild fowl, afford excellent hackles. Golden 

 pheasant's feathers from the head and neck are 

 most valuable for salmon flies. 



Furs can be easily got at the furriers'. Those 

 most wanted are bear's, grey, black, brown, and 

 dun of every shade ; badger's, sable, and martin's 

 fur, particularly the parts about the head of the 

 former, and the yellow-spotted portions under the 

 jaws of the latter ; squirrel's fur, American and 



