io ON MATERIALS AND IMPLEMENTS 



tained from game cocks, and well-shaped ones, in 

 which the colour on both sides is nearly the same, 

 are simply invaluable. Badger hackles of the 

 approved tint, viz., dark brown, nearly black 

 centres, and cream-coloured (not white) points, are 

 found on Dorkings. For dyeing, pure white 

 hackles from white bantams and the lightest of 

 the Andalusians are usually selected, but, if not 

 savouring too much of extravagance, the best duns, 

 especially those which are shaded or flecked with 

 yellowish or ginger points, are certainly the most 

 successful for dyeing in the various shades and tints 

 of olives. Natural black hackles are usually rusty, 

 and require dyeing to make them jet black a pro- 

 cess not attainable by amateurs. For small flies, 

 the best black hackles to use are those from the 

 neck of an old cock starling. All hackles before 

 using require to have the downy portion at the 

 root-end stripped off. Various recipes are given in 

 angling books for preserving hackles and other 

 feathers from the ravages of moths, such as pepper, 

 tobacco leaf, camphor, cedar chips, colocynth or 

 bitter apple, &c. ; but the only really efficacious And 

 certain preventive, is to immerse them for a few 

 minutes in a solution of Corrosive Sublimate in 

 Alcohol. 



When any close-plumed feathers such as the 

 neck feathers of pheasant, partridge, grouse, grey 

 hen, &c., arc used as hackles, after stripping off 

 the downy part at the root-end of the quill, take 



