FOR FLY DRESSING. 17 



after described, is undoubtedly the best quill for 

 the body of an ordinary Red-spinner. 



Quills for bodies can also be obtained from the 

 wing and tail feathers of starling, coot, chaffinch, 

 partridge, &c. The method to be adopted is to 

 make a slight incision in the surface of the central 



o 



quill, near the extreme point, with a sharp knife 

 downwards and towards the root-end of the feather, 

 slightly raising the outer surface of the quill with 

 the knife. Holding the feather in the left hand, 

 and catching the projecting end raised by the knife 

 between the nail of the right thumb and the ball of 

 the forefinger, the quill can be torn clear of the 

 feather ; it then requires to be passed backwards 

 and forwards between the right thumb-nail and fore- 

 finger several times, to remove any of the pith re- 

 maining on the under-side of the quill : these quills 

 take the dyes readily, but should be thoroughly 

 soaked in warm water before using, to render them 

 quite soft. India-rubber for detached or ordinary 

 bodies can either be cut with a wet sharp knife from 

 the ordinary bottle-rubber, or thin slips drawn from 

 elastic webbing can be used. In all cases select the 

 palest and most transparent pieces for this purpose. 

 Wheaten straw, or maize, such as is used for the 

 covering of Mexican cigarettes, are the best 

 materials for May-fly bodies. Ordinary shoe- 

 maker's bristles are required for the foundation of 

 detached bodies, and horsehair, either white, dyed, 

 or natural colours, for covering them. 



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