AMERICAN TROUT-STREAM INSECTS 



come in handy for many important uses — the quills 

 being useful for detached bodies, and much of the 

 downy portions for packing bodies, hairy insects or 

 caterpillars, etc. Then, again, you never know in 

 advance how long you may need a hackle or feather. 

 For these reasons, I prefer to trim feathers at the 

 time I want to use them. 



Some flat stripped wing feathers are best kept in 

 envelopes ; but I much prefer to keep the wing in- 

 tact, stripping as I go along. There are many 

 small inside wing feathers which are most useful; 

 in fact, every feather on the bird comes in at one 

 time or another. Curved feathers should be kept in 

 boxes or glass jars. 



When you start your collection, remember that 

 small birds are most useful in making little flies. 

 The wings, tail, and neck feather of the cock spar- 

 row are extremely useful; and the entire skin and 

 wings of the starling are better still. Beautiful 

 hackle feathers for small flies can be taken from the 

 neck, rump, and under wing of the starling and 

 other birds of a similar size. It is quite a simple 

 matter to trap small birds and skin them immedi- 

 ately before the body becomes cold. When the skin 

 is ripped off, just tack it (with feathers down) to a 

 piece of board, and let it lie in a dark closet away 

 from flies for a few days, and it will dry without any 

 powder or solution. Large birds with fat on the 

 skins can be sprinkled over with saltpeter after the 



108 



