ON DYEING WHITE FEATHERS. 83 



nuts, produce dlfFerent hues. Galls, logwood, and 

 madder, should however be omitted when the 

 colouring is intended to approach a red or brown. 

 The light shades in all cases should be first gained, 

 and any other darker hue added afterwards. Hard 

 water should never be used in dyeing. Having 

 given to the feathers their mordant or base, 

 as already directed, add either sulphate of iron, 

 sulphate of alum, acetate of alum, or acetate ot 

 copper, according to the intended shade. Wash 

 the feathers from the mordant, and put them in 

 a strong decoction of that plant which dyers call 

 ' weld.' Simmer them in this a few minutes, 

 strengthening or weakening the weld-decoction in 

 proportion as the colour is to be more or less 

 brilliant. A little practice, and the noting of the 

 various results after each trial, will soon render 

 the angler familiar with the methods of varying 

 the colours so as to meet his wishes. These in- 

 structions, the author of them, Mr. Packer, in his 

 ' Dyer's Guide,' says apply to furs and wools as 

 well as to feathers." 



I approve of the following method — that of 

 Mr. Ronalds — of dyeing v/hite feathers a dun 

 colour : — Make a mordant by dissolving a quarter 

 of an ounce of alum in a pint of water, and boil 

 the feathers in it slightly, taking care that they 



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