MARRYING STRIPS OF FEATHERS. 85 



the tail of the blue Macaw, the knife shape is distinctly visible. Observe 

 narrowly the edge of the strand, and then, for practice, tie it on to the 

 side of a hook shank with a couple of turns of silk. If tied sharp edge 

 doivn, the strand will not curve properly in the water, however well it 

 may appear to do so out of it. Tied sharp edge up, and the curve can be 

 made at the desired angle by stroking with the right hand, not too late, 

 in fixing, and remain unalterably so. I would add, that in taking off 

 strips of feather from the quill itself, the point of the stiletto can be used 

 for dividing the portion wanted, which is afterwards grasped by the right 

 fore-finger and thumb, and stripped off rapidly by those fingers, whilst 

 the left hand holds the upper part of the feather. This, in my opinion, 

 is the best plan for a beginner ; and, with such elaborate directions, 

 practice should ensure expertness in the operation of fixing under-wings, 

 provided always that the grip of the left be correctly made and firmly 

 sustained, until the strips have been regulated as aforesaid, and tied 

 down. By "correct" is meant that the tips of the fore-finger and thumb 

 first make their grip of the under-wings from above, at that part of the 

 body from which the fibres of the throat-hackle spring ; the fingers, still 

 gripping, then proceed to draw all the fibres a little back out of the way 

 of the work, and do not become relaxed in their hold. 



Section II. The inspection being over, and foregoing hints digested, 

 pass the silk from Make off into " CATCH " ; and with point of scissors 

 laid level with the direction of the shank (the point of the scissors turn 

 up, remember, at an angle of about 30). If straight-pointed scissors be 

 used, they must be laid at an angle of about 30 as best they can ; cut 

 away the waste fibres, so forming a taper headward, and make off again. 



Section III. Next take from, say, a Bustard feather, right and left 

 strips, each of about five strands in breadth, and similar strips from right 

 and left Mallard feathers. Marry these two sorts, right with right, and 

 left with left, and lay them on the table. 



By "marrying," is meant, so joining two or more strips of feather 

 to each other by their adjacent edges as to form one strip, equivalent in 

 size to the several breadths added together. In the present instance, 

 take the right strip of Bustard and of Mallard (strongly inclined to 

 marriage are these), and place them alongside each other (the Bustard 



