56 THE SALMON FLY. 



an air-tight compartment. The hackles are occasionally wanted, as for 

 instance, on the Towy. The creamy, transversely-speckled feathers 

 found in the wings brighten up a fly, and heighten the effect of Mixed 

 wings. Some years ago I had a quantity of them sent me from India. 

 These contained brilliant shades of blue, yellow, red, and green ; but 

 alas ! they were soon swallowed up in fly-making, and I have never been 

 able to replenish my store. 



The Golden Pheasant is subordinate to none. It has attained the 

 highest pitch of popularity among Fly-makers, mainly by virtue of its 

 crest. Not only has it enjoyed a rare continuance of public favour, in 

 this, as in other repects for " all the bird " is valued, but it will always 

 be in fashion, if only for the tippet feathers, which are wanted in number- 

 less Standard patterns. It is needless to remind the reader that the 

 leading feather in the tail is incomparably the best of the bunch. 



The Amherst Pheasant is also invaluable. Some years since, Mr. 

 George Home, of Hereford (a well-known Salmon Angler) , seeing the 

 merits of the tail feathers, devoted his attention to breeding and crossing 

 these birds with others of their species. The tail of the three-quarter- 

 bred Amherst with the Golden Pheasant is particularly fine. By this 

 means, the black bars in the former feathers become numerous black 

 spots, which are most effective on the whitish ground. A dash of 

 Amherst blood improves the tail of the Gold, and richly enhances the 

 colour of the toppings. Mr. Home keeps a fine stock of all the best birds, 

 and sometimes disposes of their feathers. I have one, the fibres of which 

 measure nearly five inches in length ; but a little in a fly goes a very long 

 way. 



Group III. Scarlet Ibis (though I much prefer the wing of the 

 Tourocou for tails) ; dyed Swan and dyed Turkey ; tail feathers of the 

 Macaw ; Golden Pheasant tippet ; Peacock herl and sword feather. 



This group comprises chiefly colour and ornament. Ibis should be 

 used almost exclusively for tails and wings. As a hackle it is poor and 

 lifeless in the water, and has acquired a wholly justifiable measure of 

 dislike. Swan is exquisitely suitable for our work, and far better than 

 dyed Turkey. Tippets vary much in size, shape, and purity of colour. 

 On each side of the neck the feathers of a good bird assume a natural 



