104 MATERIALS FOR FLY-MAKING. 



wing, the wings principally used being those of 

 the starling, moorhen, landrail, and thrush. The 

 feathers are always best when newly procured, 

 because they are then suffused with an oily sub- 

 stance which renders them compact and glossy. 

 This shows the desirability of the stock of feathers 

 being frequently renewed. Besides, old feathers 

 are apt to harbour moth, an enemy to be kept 

 at bay only by the strictest attention and care, 

 especially by the constant examination and turn- 

 ing out of the stock, and admitting into it no 

 single article from an old or ill-kept store. The 

 part of the feather used for wings should be so 

 arranged, in stripping it from the stem, that the 

 under side of the plume fibres stand outside when 

 tied on. The starling's feather may be consi- 

 dered perfect, as regards quality, and it varies in 

 shade according to the age and sex of the bird 

 from which it is taken, the youngest furnish- 

 ing the lightest. The second, third, and fourth 

 feathers of the wing, counting from the longest 

 outside feather, are best, though all the others are 

 not useless. 



WAX. 



Common shoemaker's wax, without any prepa- 



