THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. gi 



come across some good feathers of any kind it is well for 

 him to get hold of them ; if he does not care to use them 

 himself, his fly dressing friends will be very pleased to 

 have them. Real good, well-coloured, well-shaped feathers 

 are more difficult to get than any one would imagine. Many 

 of the feathers used in fly making, especially for salmon 

 flies, are dyed, as the latter are generally gorgeous in 

 colour. All feathers should be viewed by transmitted 

 light, that is by holding them up against the light and 

 judging their colours by the transparent view presented ; it 

 is in this way that the fish see them, and no other ; the 

 appearance of a feather as to colour seen by reflected 

 light is very different from that of transmitted light. A 

 study of these two distinct views is well worth the angler's 

 attention. The feathers that are principally used in the 

 manufacture of salmon flies are the blue and buff macaw 

 tail ; these are very valuable. A good feather from the 

 centre of the tail is worth about two shillings per inch ; 

 of course very little is used only two fibres to put as 

 feelers on each side of the wing. Summer, Canadian, or 

 wood duck furnish very essential feathers for mixing with 

 the wings. These are the ones with the distinct black bars 

 across the fibres ; they are very striking in appearance. 

 Also those of the bittern, owl, heron, and lapwing. Red 

 macaw tail feathers are used occasionally, not so much as 

 the buff and blue. The jungle cock's neck furnishes very 

 useful feathers ; in fact, nearly all bright salmon flies have 

 one or two portions of them in they go to form the sides 

 and cheeks of the fly. Toucan breast feathers are for 

 jointed bodies, most notably for the celebrated Jock Scott 

 salmon fly. Golden pheasant crest feathers go to form the 

 topping overlapping the wings of nearly all the best salmon 



