THE FLY FISHER'S GUIDE. 9 



the former, are difficult to be met with perfectly 

 free from grizzle. The red, with black stripe 

 down the middle., is by no means common : next 

 to these, in point of utility, is the red, with black 

 root, which is generally substituted when the 

 former cannot be procured. Black hackles are of 

 late become more common than formerly, by the 

 introduction of a breed of Spanish fowls, which 

 are perfectly black, except the topping of the 

 head. The proper time of the year for the selec- 

 tion and plucking of hackles is about Christmas, 

 as the feathers are then perfect and free from 

 that disagreeable matter, which at other times is 

 generally found in the pen part of the feather. 

 Should the angler be so fortunate as to meet 

 with a real dun bird, either cock or hen, he 

 ought to secure it at any price, as he may be 

 considered as possessing a treasure ; for the 

 same fowl will furnish him with grizzled hackles 

 about May, and dun hackles at Christmas. The 

 feathers from young birds, before they have 

 moulted, are entirely useless, being too soft to 



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