226 THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 



minutes. Then rinse these in warm water, and after 

 emptying out the alum solution fill the test tube again with 

 water ; add about one drachm of cochineal and a small 

 pinch of cream of tartar. Immerse the feathers in this, and 

 simmer gently for fifteen to thirty minutes the longer 

 they are boiling, the deeper the shade. The feathers can 

 be examined from time to time, raising them from the 

 solution by means of the thread. When the desired depth 

 of colour is obtained, wash in clean water and dry in the 

 air. If a bluish shade is required, rinse the feathers in a 

 weak solution of ammonia and water. Claret stain : Same 

 mordant ; dye bath, madder and logwood. Orange : Same 

 mordant ; dye bath, first madder, then quercitron bark. 

 The stain given to mallard speckled feathers, imitating the 

 peculiar grey-green colour of the green drake wing, can be 

 obtained by boiling the feathers in a decoction of the 

 barbary root. Blue and green stains are seldom fast ; 

 altogether inferior to the natural colours of the feathers. 



Stains. In staining wood, the first thing is to get 

 rid of any greasy matter on the surface, such as may 

 arise from the hands using the oiled tools in shaping. 

 This can easily be done by applying a hot solution 

 of soda w r ashing or carbonate. After this, wash with 

 clean water and allow to dry. The wood is then in a 

 fit state to take any stain required. There are only 

 ane or two that are recommended to be used by the 

 angler for his rods, should he feel inclined to stain them 

 himself. The best of all, a rich brown colour, is very 

 simple, and has the advantage of preserving the wood ; it 

 is highly recommended. Brown stain : Take one ounce of 

 bi-chromate of potash or orange chrome crystals, dissolve 

 in boiling water say two wine glasses, and lay aside. Then 



