88 RECIPES FOR DYEING. 



the body of the fly you are dressing. Common 

 shoemaker's wax is, however, the most useful; 

 and, unless we be very particular, it may on all 

 occasions supersede dyed wax. Thick floss silk 

 and camlet of various hues are necessary for the 

 bodies of some flies and palmers. 



The instruments for fly-dressing are few, and 

 practice will make them fewer. At first you will 

 want a small table-vice, a small spring-pliers, a 

 penknife with a file-blade, two pairs of scissors 

 of the very best manufacture one with long and 

 fine blades, ending in the sharpest and finest 

 points, another with short stout blades and large 

 finger-loops, and as correctly pointed as the other. 

 A large needle, with a fine point and fitted into a 

 small handle, is necessary to divide the wings, to 

 pick out the dubbing, and to free the fibres of the 

 hackle when required. 



A FEW RECIPES FOR DYEING. 



Under the head of the May-fly, will be found a 

 recipe for dyeing feathers a yellowish green. 

 Mr. Packer, in his ' Dyer's Guide,' dyes feathers 

 yellow thus :. Into a saucepan three parts filled 

 with soft water, put the feathers to be dyed ; and 

 when they are thoroughly wetted, add a small 

 quantity of sulphate of iron. Simmer them over 

 a moderate fire a few minutes, and the feathers 



