BEST SORTS OF HAIR AND FUR. 87 



English : also the fur of the water and house rat, 

 field-mouse, mole, hedgehog, seal, both dyed and 

 natural. Skins of the black, sandy, and grey 

 rabbit, in all their varieties, are useful; also those 

 of the ferret, weasel, and polecat. The fur of the 

 ears, head, and neck of the hare is most useful. 

 Mr. Elaine advises ' that skins of all kinds, when 

 they fall in the angler's way, should be looked 

 over, and any striking portions preserved, every 

 one of which may prove valuable in the hour of 

 need.' 



Of hair, there is none more useful than that 

 called ( hog's down.' Naturally it is of various 

 colours, and can be dyed of any hue advan- 

 tageously. It resists the water well, and when 

 immersed in that element retains its vividness of 

 colour, whatever that may be. I have a high 

 opinion of mohair, which can be obtained of 

 every colour. Worsted is only suited for the 

 bodies of large flies. 



For tying on flies the best silk is that which is 

 the finest and strongest. Undyed silk is always 

 the strongest, and the floss silk used for making 

 delicate fringes, and the sewing-silk employed in 

 the finest sort of glove-work, are perhaps the best. 

 If you use them of different colours, wax them 

 with the wax, to make which I have already given 

 you a recipe. If you use white silk only, you 

 must wax with wax dyed the general colour of 



