CHAPTER II. 



ON MATERIALS AND IMPLEMENTS FOR FLY 

 DRESSING. 



HAVE, as far as possible, in the selec- 

 tion of materials, indicated such as can 

 be readily obtained, although in some 

 instances it has been found necessary to illustrate 

 patterns requiring feathers which are very scarce ; 

 but in every case where a fair imitation can be 

 produced from the plumage of a bird indigenous to 

 this country, or inexpensive to purchase, I have 

 given the preference to this, or at least described 

 the rendering with the native bird as a substitute 

 for the rarer, though possibly more appropriate 

 material which it may be almost impossible to find 

 or procure by any means open to the ordinary 

 amateur. 



Of all feathers required for fly dressing, the 

 hackle is the one to be placed first on the list, as 

 being the most important, and, unfortunately, at the 

 same time, the most difficult to procure. For float- 

 ing flies cock hackles are so immeasurably superior, 



