ON MATERIALS. 41 



hackles used in fly making are obtained. Those 

 of the cock are the brighter and the harder in the 

 fibre, but the hen is looked to for certain colours, 

 as, for instance, ginger and black. Honey dun, 

 blue dun, stone blue, yellow dun, and red hackles, 

 are best from game birds, but, with the exception 

 of the last, are very difficult to obtain. Blue 

 hackles are also to be obtained from Andalusians ; 

 white, cream, and yellow from Leghorns and 

 Dorkings ; buff from Cochins ; also excellent 

 hackles of all shades may often be obtained from 

 common barndoor fowl. Bantam hackles may 

 also be recommended. The best times to collect 

 hackles are at the beginning and end of the year. 



The nomenclature of hackles is somewhat un- 

 certain, and without the aid of colour it is not 

 easy to impart to the novice the ideas attached 

 even to the more definite terms with which we 

 are provided. Nevertheless, the subject must not 

 remain untouched. 



Ked, as applied to hackles, of course, means 

 " foxy " red, and the darkest and glossiest shade, 

 which is much in demand, is generally called 

 "dark red game," being best obtained from a 

 cock of the same designation. The palest and 

 most yellowish shades of red are described as 

 ginger. 



The term " dun " refers to a dingy brown or 

 mouse colour, with its darker and lighter shades, 

 of which the fly dresser sees a great number. 



The remaining terms, denoting hackles of one 

 colour only black, cinnamon, &c. are unmis- 

 takable ; but many hackles are of two or more 

 colours combined and distributed in different 

 ways. The more important of these must now be 

 noticed. 



Badger hackles are black or dark dun in the 

 centre, and white or cream at the edge. Honey 

 dun and brassy dun resemble badger hackles as 



